Method and apparatus for scheduling presentation of digital content on a personal communication device

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus wherein a software scheduling agent resides on a communication network and/or client device, such as location-aware wireless communication appliances, television set top boxes, or other end user client devices is disclosed. The software scheduling agent is part of a probabilistic modeling system in which the scheduler operates to perform constrained random variation with selection. Digital content is generated, organized, and stored on the communication network and/or the client devices. An electronic digital content wrapper, which holds information in the form of data and metadata related to the digital content is associated with each item of digital content. Contextual profiles for each user and each item of digital content are established by the users and the network and maintained by a service provider on the communication network. The software scheduling agent compares the contextual digital content profile for each item of digital content to the contextual user profile for each user to determine which digital content should be offered for presentation to each user. The comparison and determination of which items of digital content should be offered for presentation to which users is performed by a process of constrained random variation. After the software scheduling agent determines which items of digital content would most likely be relevant or interesting to the user, the digital content is transmitted, either in whole or in part, at predetermined times over the communication network to the appropriate client devices. The digital content is then stored, either in whole or in part, in cache memory on the client device until an appropriate time when the digital content is digitally packaged and presented to particular users over those user&#39;s client devices.

CLAIM OF PRIOR FILING DATES

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/194,644, filed Apr. 4, 2000, titled “Location-Aware WirelessCommunication Appliance and Network;” U.S. Provisional Application No.60/229,235, filed Aug. 31, 2000, titled “Location-Aware WirelessCommunication Appliance and Network;” and U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/232,063, filed Sep. 12, 2000, titled “Thumb Optimized Keyboardfor Personal Computing Device.” This application is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/745,617, filed 20Dec. 2000, titled “Physical Configuration of a Handheld ElectronicCommunication Device,” and incorporates that application by referenceherein as if set forth in full.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the presentation of digital content onpersonal communication devices. In particular, the present inventionrelates to systematic scheduling of the presentation of digital contenton personal communication devices.

2. Background Information

Over the last decade, there has been a tremendous increase in demand fornew and better means of communicating and transferring data amongconsumers over communication networks. The Internet has played animportant role in satisfying this demand, in that its development hasspawned many new modes of communicating and sharing data, such ase-mail, chat, instant messaging, and video messaging. During its earlydevelopment, consumers could only access the Internet and these newforms of digital content from a computer that was hard-wired to theInternet, either over a local area network, or via a modem. Recently,there has been a shift in consumer demand toward wireless communicationand data sharing. People want access to all of these forms ofcommunication and data transfer not only while they are at their desks,but also when they are on the move.

Many companies have tried to meet this demand by providing cellularphones and other wireless communicating devices which can transmit andreceive Internet-type communications in addition to voicecommunications. However, because such phones have small display screensand limited data input devices, they typically rely on scaled down datatransmission protocols, such as the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).Although WAP devices can transmit textual and graphical data, they areextremely limited in bandwidth. As such, these devices and the digitalcontent available with them do not provide a very interesting userexperience.

Aside from the problem of providing a wireless device with whichconsumers can communicate using these Internet-type modes ofcommunication, there is also the problem of determining what informationto provide. The Internet has quickly become one of the world's largestsources of knowledge and information. The enormous size and scope of theInternet and other information networks often makes it impossible tofind relevant information in a reasonable amount of time. The difficultyof obtaining relevant information from the Internet and otherinformation networks in a timely fashion has given rise to thedevelopment of a wide variety of products and services which locate andsift through large volumes of data in an effort to disseminateparticular information which is relevant to particular consumers. Forexample, consumers can subscribe to certain services which locate andperiodically broadcast specified information to their subscribers. Thistechnology is often referred to as “push” technology, in that theinformation, or digital content, is pushed from the information providerto the subscriber.

It is not uncommon for push-technology service providers to have eachsubscriber fill out an initial questionnaire at the beginning of thesubscription in order to obtain certain information about thesubscriber. Such questionnaires typically include questions directed tothe subscriber's biographic, demographic, and economic background. Thedigital content that is broadcast by these service providers to theirsubscribers is typically controlled solely by the service provider, withno input from the subscriber, other than the subscriber's initialquestionnaire or when the subscriber updates his profile. These systemsare not designed for ongoing interaction between the subscriber and theservice provider. Although such systems can provide periodic broadcastof digital content or information, such as the transmission of a dailye-mail of news or information, they are not designed to provide the mostappropriate digital content at the most appropriate time for thesubscriber. Other than the subscriber “unsubscribing,” the serviceprovider has no way of knowing whether the subscriber is stillinterested in the digital content offered by the service.

Although the devices and systems discussed above represent great stridesin the areas of communication and presentation of digital content overpersonal communication devices, many shortcomings remain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a method and apparatus with which digital contentmay be systematically scheduled and presented on personal communicationdevices.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for systematically scheduling and selectively presentingdigital content on personal communication devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for systematically scheduling and selectively offering digitalcontent for presentation to users, wherein the digital content isgenerated, organized, stored, and rated by the users over acommunication network.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for systematically scheduling and selectively offering digitalcontent for presentation to users, wherein the digital content isgenerated, organized, stored, transmitted over a communication networkto a client device, and rated by the users.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for systematically scheduling and selectively offering digitalcontent for presentation on a client device, wherein the digital contentis generated, organized, stored, profiled, compared to a contextual userprofile, transmitted to the client devices over a communication network,and rated by the users.

These objects are achieved by providing a method and apparatus wherein asoftware scheduling agent resides on a communication network and/orclient device, such as location-aware wireless communication appliances,television set top, boxes, or other end user client devices. Thesoftware scheduling agent is part of a probabilistic modeling system inwhich the scheduler operates to perform constrained random variationwith selection. Digital content is generated, organized, and stored onthe communication network and/or the client devices. An electronicdigital content wrapper, which holds information in the form of data andmetadata related to the digital content is associated with each item ofdigital content. Contextual profiles for each user and each item ofdigital content are established by the users and the network andmaintained by a service provider on the communication network. Thesoftware scheduling agent compares the contextual digital contentprofile for each item of digital content to the contextual user profilefor each user to determine which digital content should be offered forpresentation to each user. The comparison and determination of whichitems of digital content should be offered for presentation to whichusers is performed by a process of constrained random variation. Afterthe software scheduling agent determines which items of digital contentwould most likely be relevant or interesting to the user, the digitalcontent is transmitted, either in whole or in part, at predeterminedtimes over the communication network to the appropriate client devices.The digital content is then stored, either in whole or in part, in cachememory on the client device until an appropriate time when the digitalcontent is digitally packaged and presented to particular users over theusers' client devices.

The present invention has many advantages over conventional methods andapparatuses for transmitting digital content to personal communicationdevices. First and foremost, the present invention is not merely amethod of broadcasting digital content to an indiscriminant collectionof subscribers. The present invention is a tool with which the user canplay an active role in the dissemination and presentation of digitalcontent. The present invention uses a scheduling agent that is basedupon a probabilistic modeling system. The contextual digital contentprofiles and the contextual user profiles are continuously updated toensure that there is a high probability that the user will be presentedwith digital content that he finds relevant and interesting. The userplays an ongoing active role in the systematic scheduling of digitalcontent by rating the digital content as it is presented. Although thescheduling system is very sophisticated, the rating procedure is veryintuitive and non-intrusive. The system is designed to obtain valuableopinion information from the user without intruding into the user'sexperience. Through the rating system of the present invention, the userhas a certain level of control over which digital content is offered tohimself and others on the system. This ensures that the user will notonly continue to participate in the experience, but take an active rolein the dissemination of digital content, thereby building community.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a simplified pictorial representation of the preferredembodiment of a location-aware wireless communication appliance andrelated network according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a high-level block diagram of the bi-directionalcommunication of the appliance and network of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a graphical depiction of longitude and latitude correlationas implemented by the appliance and network of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a simplified representation of the location awarenessfunction of the appliance and network of FIG. 1A for a portion of aexemplary day for a member.

FIG. 1E is a simplified tabular representation of some basic informationtypes that can be aggregated or assembled for particular users by theappliance and network of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1F is a simplified pictorial representation of a “fuzzy” managementfunction for managing location data for the appliance and network ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1G (1 of 5) is a simplified tabular representation of a data arrayof location data for tower 203 of FIG. 1F.

FIG. 1G (2 of 5) is a simplified tabular representation of a data arrayof location data for tower 205 of FIG. 1F.

FIG. 1G (3 of 5) is a simplified tabular representation of a data arrayof location data for tower 207 of FIG. 1F.

FIG. 1G (4 of 5) is a simplified tabular representation of a data arrayof location data for tower 209 of FIG. 1F.

FIG. 1G (5 of 5) is a simplified tabular representation of a data arrayof location data for tower 211 of FIG. 1F.

FIG. 1H is a highly simplified representation of a plurality of theappliances of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1I is a tabular representation of digital content that may betransmitted to the plurality of appliances of FIG. 1H.

FIG. 1J is a high-level, simplified representation of novel electronicwrappers for the digital content of FIG. 1I.

FIG. 1K is a simplified representation of the aggregation and assemblyof the digital content of FIG. 1I.

FIG. 1L is a tabular representation of a novel contextual user profileused by the appliance and network of FIG. 1A in conjunction with thedigital content of FIG. 1I.

FIG. 1M is a high-level simplified representation of a schedulersoftware of the appliance and network of FIG. 1A in an initial state.

FIG. 1N is a high-level simplified representation of the schedulersoftware of FIG. 1M in a subsequent state.

FIG. 1O is a simplified schematic illustrating the relationship networkfor the appliance and network of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a simplified representation of theappliance of FIG. 1A having a constantly visible display that translatesrelative to a body portion.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2A depicting howthe constantly visible display translates relative to the body portionto expose a keyboard or other data input devices that are integratedinto the body portion.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2A with theconstantly visible display in a position which fully reveals thekeyboard or data input devices.

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of an alternate simplified representationof the appliance of FIG. 1A having a constantly visible display thatpivots relative to a body portion to reveal a keyboard or other datainput devices that are integrated into the body portion.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2D depicting howthe constantly visible display pivots relative to the body portion toreveal the keyboard or other data input devices.

FIG. 2F is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2D depicting howthe constantly visible display further pivots relative to the bodyportion to reveal the keyboard or other data input devices.

FIG. 2G is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2D with theconstantly visible display pivoted to fully reveal the keyboard or otherinput devices.

FIG. 2H is a perspective view of an alternate simplified representationof the appliance of FIG. 1A having a constantly visible displayintegrated into a body portion and a keyboard or other data inputdevices that extend outward from the interior of the body portion.

FIG. 2I is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2H depicting howthe keyboard or other data input devices extend outward from theinterior of the body portion.

FIG. 2J is a perspective view of the appliance of FIG. 2H with thekeyboard or other data input devices in a fully extended position.

FIG. 2K is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the appliance ofFIG. 1A having a constantly visible display that translates relative toa body portion to reveal a thumbboard or other data input devices thatare integrated into the body portion, and having an analog electronicdata input device using slider movement according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2L is a rear view of the appliance of FIG. 2K.

FIG. 2M is a right side view of the appliance of FIG. 2K.

FIG. 2N is a bottom view of the appliance of FIG. 2K.

FIG. 2O is a front view of the appliance of FIG. 2K with the constantlyvisible display translated relative to the body portion to fully revealthe keyboard or other input devices.

FIG. 2P is a rear view of the appliance of FIG. 2K awhile in the openstate of FIG. 2O.

FIG. 2Q is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the appliance ofFIG. 1A having a constantly visible display that translates relative toa body portion to reveal a thumbboard or other data input devices thatare integrated into the body portion, and having an analog electronicdata input device using slider movement according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2R is a rear view of the appliance of FIG. 2Q.

FIG. 2S is a right side view of the appliance of FIG. 2Q.

FIG. 2T is a front view of another alternate embodiment of the applianceof FIG. 1A having a constantly visible display that hingedly movesrelative to a body portion to reveal a keyboard of other data inputdevices that are integrated into the body portion, and having an analogelectronic data input device using slider movement according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2U is a right side view of the appliance of FIG. 2T.

FIG. 2V is a front view of the appliance of FIG. 2T with the constantlyvisible display hingedly moved relative to the body portion to fullyreveal the keyboard or other input devices.

FIG. 2W is a front view of another alternate embodiment of the applianceof FIG. 1A having a constantly visible display and thumbboards or otherdata input devices that extend out from the interior of a body portion,and having an analog electronic data input device using slider movementaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2X is a rear view of the appliance of FIG. 2W.

FIG. 2Y is a right side view of the appliance of FIG. 2W.

FIG. 2Z is a front view of the appliance of FIG. 2W with the keyboardsextended outward from the interior of the body portion.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram representation of a low-cost version theappliance of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram representation of a preferred operatingsystem of the appliance of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4A is a high-level block diagram representation of the commercialoperation of the appliance and network of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4B is a high-level block diagram representation of a scenario inwhich a plurality of members distribute and contribute content to anelectronic bulletin board on the network of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4C is a high-level block diagram representation of a scenario inwhich a plurality of members interact with a plurality of merchants viathe network and appliances of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4D is a high-level block diagram representation of a scenario inwhich members recruit new members to the network of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5A is a tabular representation of the preferred embodiment of anelectronic data input apparatus according to the present invention andalternate embodiments thereof.

FIGS. 6A-6E are schematics representing the function and operation ofthe electronic data input apparatus and system according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6F and 6G are schematics representing a graphical scaling elementhaving graphical scaling messages which correspond with the electronicdata input system and apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 7A-7I are schematics of alternate embodiments of the input elementof the electronic data input apparatus according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 8A-8E are schematics illustrating the electronic data inputapparatus according to the present invention being utilized on a varietyof personal communication devices.

FIG. 9 is an alternate embodiment of the electronic data input systemand apparatus according to the present invention being utilized as anadd-on expansion module in a conventional personal communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a table of contents for this specification. Topics willbe grouped under these headings and discussed in detail below.

1. Introduction and Overview

1.A. Contextually aware client

1.B. Network

-   -   1.B.1. Wireless    -   1.B.2. Wired

1.C. Delivery of content

-   -   1.C.1. Delivery in Response to User Request    -   1.C.2. Deliver Based on Context    -   1.C.3. Subscription        2. Creating Value

2.A. Creating value for users

-   -   2.A.1. Feeling connected    -   2.A.2. Keeping up with what is important    -   2.A.3. Reminders (in time and space)    -   2.A.4. Communicating        -   a. IM        -   b. E-mail        -   c. Voice    -   2.A.5. Finding what they need        -   a) Contextual searches (e.g., driving direction from here)    -   2.A.6. Rich media experience

2.B. Creating value for developers

-   -   2.B.1. Higher level development environment (through scripting        of MM Flash)    -   2.B.2. “Mobile Flash” extensions    -   2.B.3. Best environment to create low-bandwidth, rich media,        high interaction

2.C. Creating value for wireless operators

-   -   2.C.1. 3G experience on a 2.5G packet network    -   2.C.2. Lets operators be more than a data pipe    -   2.C.3. First platform that can be monetized

2.D. Creating value for device manufacturers

-   -   2.D.1. Wireless, rich media reference design    -   2.D.2. Hooks to recurring revenue

2.E. Creating value for merchants

-   -   2.E.1. Rich media    -   2.E.2. Contextual    -   2.E.3. Aggregated user data    -   2.E.4. Transactional capability        3. Basic Concepts

3.A. Content

-   -   3.A.1. Elements        -   a. Meta-data (wrapper)            -   1. Purposes            -   2. Components                -   a. Header                -   b. Sensitivities                -   c. Associations        -   b. Data    -   3.A.2. Routing        -   a. Specifically routed        -   b. Self routed    -   3.A.3. Auto-updateable

3.B. Context

-   -   3.B.1. Device context    -   3.B.2. Objective context    -   3.B.3. Objective context—Altered (Virtual locations)    -   3.B.4. Subjective context    -   3.B.5. Preference context

3.C. Rating of content

3.D. Content selection

-   -   3.D.1. Gross    -   3.D.2. Fine

3.E. Awareness

3.F. Arrangements

-   -   3.F.1. Organizational tool    -   3.F.2. Content Item Membership is Non-exclusive    -   3.F.3. Types of Arrangements        -   a. Arbitrary        -   b. Rules-based    -   3.F.4. Representation in Other Arrangements    -   3.F.5. Contextually triggered

3.G. Communications

-   -   3.G.1. E-Mail    -   3.G.2. Instant messaging    -   3.G.3. Chat    -   3.G.4. Voice    -   3.G.5. Video    -   3.G.6. Escalation    -   3.G.7. De-escalation

3.H. Searches

3.I. Relationship network

3.J. Economy of content delivery

3.K. Abstraction of location

-   -   3.K.1. Named places    -   3.K.2. Named times    -   3.K.3. Named events (place/times)

3.L. Authorization

4. Create

4.A. Macromedia Flash

-   -   4.A.1. File format    -   4.A.2. Rendering engine    -   4.A.3. Authoring Tools    -   4.A.4. Scripting language        5. Wrapping Content

5.A. Prototypical wrappers

-   -   5.A.1. Inheritance from prototypical wrappers    -   5.A.2. Tagging

5.B. Wrapper Tool

5.C. Automatic wrapping

5.D. Registration

6. Routing Mechanisms

6.A. Destination-specific Routing

-   -   6.A.1. Awareness updates    -   6.A.2. Messages    -   6.A.3. Payload fills    -   6.A.4. Search results    -   6.A.5. Browsing

6.B. Self-routed

-   -   6.B.1. Simultaneous distribution of unique experiences    -   6.B.2. Content selection engine        -   a. Content similarity calculation    -   6.B.3. Relationship influence        7. Deliver

7.A. Intelligent pre-caching

-   -   7.A.1. Transfer costs        -   a. Minimal (connected to fat pipe)        -   b. Cheap (wireless off-peak)        -   c. Expensive (capacity limited times)    -   7.A.2. Delivery times        -   a. Available to send        -   b. Must be sent by

7.B. Separation of data and presentation layers

8. Present

8.A. Content's context sensitivities interacting with current context

-   -   8.A.1. Client presentation scheduler        -   a. Probabilistic selection        -   b. Neediness            -   1. Context driven

8.B. User Interface

-   -   8.B.1. Awareness items    -   8.B.2. Arrangement layer        -   a. Minimized content state        -   b. Viewing a few characteristics        -   c. Content item associations    -   8.B.3. Work layer        -   a. Maximized (opened) content state        -   b. Manipulation    -   8.B.4. Stream        -   a. “trailer” (animated content preview) content state        -   b. Contextual alerts    -   8.B.5. Switcher        -   a. Scaled-Minimized content state        -   b. Rapid navigational tool        -   c. Arrangement to arrangement    -   8.B.6. Menus and alerts        -   a. Contextual actions        -   b. User error alerts

8.C. User Interface (Alternate)

8.D. User Interface—Audio

8.E. User Interface Themes

-   -   8.E.1. Demographically configured    -   8.E.2. Personality configured

8.F. Rating Mechanisms

-   -   8.F.1. Explicit methods    -   8.F.2. Implicit Methods    -   8.F.3. Forgetfulness    -   8.F.4. Contextually situated ratings    -   8.F.5. Ratings of people    -   8.F.6. Rating Summary Points

8.G. Inquisitiveness

8.H. Prioritized Interrupts

8.I. Suspend/resume of awareness subscriptions

9. Refresh

9.A. Awareness hidden subscription model

9.B. Things grabbed from stream are auto-subscribed

10. Network

10.A. Packet data

10.B. Gateways

11. Device

11.A. Hardware

-   -   11.A.1. Physical configuration    -   11.A.2. Analog responder

11.B. Software

12. User

12.A. Operational empathy

12.B. Expectation management

13. Network Energy

14. Community Systems

1. Introduction and Overview

1.A. Contextually aware client

1.B. Network

1.B.1. Wireless: FIG. 1A is a simplified pictorial representation of thepresent invention in broad overview. The present invention is directedto a novel location-aware wireless communication appliance and relatednetwork as well as novel functions and novel commercial activity enabledby the system.

As is shown in FIG. 1A, a plurality of global position satellites S1,S2, SN are provided in orbit around planet earth. Each of the globalposition satellites transmits global position signals such as GPS1,GPS2, and GPSN. The details of the preferred global position system(GPS) will be discussed below.

Additionally, details of alternative position determination systems willalso be discussed. As is shown in FIG. 1A, a plurality of users aredistributed in diverse geographic locations, such as locations L1, L2,LN. More particularly, in the view of FIG. 1A, user U1 is located ingeographic location L1. User U2 is also located in geographic region L1.User U3 is located in geographic region L2. Additionally, user U4 islocated in geographic region L2. As is shown, user U5 is located ingeographic region LN. Additionally, user UN is located in geographicregion LN.

A plurality of wireless transmission towers T1, T2, and TN are providedand distributed about the diverse geographic regions in order to providewireless, bi-directional communication capabilities. As is shown in theview of FIG. 1A, tower T1 is located in geographic region L1 and servesthe users located in that geographic region. Tower T2 is located ingeographic region L2 and is utilized to serve the users located in thatgeographic region. Tower TN is located in region LN and is utilized toserve users in that particular geographic region.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,each of users U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, and UN is equipped with his or her ownpersonal location-aware wireless communication appliance D1, D2, D3, D4,D5, and DN. The users U1, U2, U3, U4, U5 and UN utilize thelocation-aware wireless communication appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, DNin order to perform bi-directional communication operations throughtowers T1, T2, and TN. Preferably, each of the towers T1, T2, TN iscommunicatively coupled to a regional computing and traffic managementsystem such as computing systems C1, C2, CN utilizing land linecommunication pathways LL1, LL2, LLN. Additionally, each of the regionalcomputing and traffic management data processing systems C1, C2, CN arecommunicatively coupled utilizing land lines preferably to a networkcomputer NC1 which is preferably located at a service center.

It should be appreciated that FIG. 1A is a highly symbolic andsimplified view of the location-aware communication appliances andrelated network system. In practice, there may be hundreds of thousandsof users broadly distributed over a wide range of geographic regions.For example, there may be several hundred thousand users located inNorth America. Most users will reside in areas which are serviced bypreexisting communication towers which are capable of communicationthrough packet data transfer. More particularly, in the preferredembodiment, the present invention utilizes GSM/GPRS in order tocommunicate digital content bi-directionally throughout the network.

For example, systems running on network computer NC1 at the servicecenter may be utilized to broadcast or narrowcast particular informationin the form of digital content to one or more particular users. Forexample, an advertisement may be transmitted from the network computerNC1 of the service center to users U1 and U2 in geographic location L1.Alternatively, the location-aware wireless communication appliances D1,D2, D3, D4, D5 and DN may be utilized to allow particular users orgroups of users to communicate with one another utilizing the GSM/GPRSas a communication protocol. For example, user U1 may utilizelocation-aware wireless communication appliance D1 to engage in atext-based “chat” with user UN who is located at a distant geographiclocation LN. In order to engage in the text-based chatting, user U1 willenter textual messages on his location-aware wireless communicationappliance D1. The location-aware wireless communication appliance D1will perform a wireless communication operation through tower T1. TowerT1 will utilize regional computer C1 and the local land lines LL1 inorder to communicate with the network computer NC1 at the servicecenter. Network computer NC1 at the service center will then communicateutilizing land lines LLN and regional computer CN in order to energizetower T1 in a predetermined manner in order to communicate the GSM/GPRSfrom tower TN to the location-aware wireless communication appliance DNwhich is under the control of user UN.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the network computer NC1 “knows” that user UN is in geographic locale LNwhich is within the transmission range of tower TN becauselocation-aware wireless communication appliance DN has previouslyannounced its availability to network computer NC1 through wirelesscommunication or interaction with tower TN. In accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, and as will be discussedin greater detail below, each of the location-aware wirelesscommunication appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, and DN include a globalpositioning system integrated into the device. Each of the users U1, U2,U3, U4, U5, and UN may determine if and when the device will announceits location and availability to a particular one of towers T1, T2, andTN. It can be appreciated that, with a great number of users or withheavy communication traffic, a plurality of service centers may beprovided, each equipped with a network computer, such as networkcomputer NC1.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention relies uponGSM/GPRS in order to enable bi-directional communication, alternativeand/or additional modes of communication or communication protocols maybe utilized in order to allow communication over the network, includingcommunication between particular users or groups of users andcommunication between the network and particular users or groups ofusers. This is illustrated in a high level block diagram format in FIG.1B. As is shown, the handheld devices 101 may communicate with towersystems 103 utilizing wireless, bi-directional CDPD communications 105;however, other wireless protocols 107 may be utilized to allowcommunication between tower systems 103 and handheld devices 101. Thetower systems 103 communicate with the network server 109 overelectrical or optical bi-directional channel 111 utilizing an IPprotocol. Other protocols 1 13 may be utilized to communicatebi-directionally between network server 109 and tower systems 103.Preferably, network server 109 includes dedicated systems, such as towertraffic manager 115 which is utilized to manage the communicationtraffic between network server 109 and tower system 103. Additionally,network servers should include a customer database 119 and a merchantdatabase 121. If a plurality of communication protocols are utilized,the traffic manager 117 may also be provided. As is shown in the view ofFIG. 1B, a plurality of input/output systems are provided to handlealternative, additional, and supplemental communication modes. Forexample, a telecom input/output server 123 is provided in order tomanage communication with network server 109 which is conducted overlandlines 133. Alternatively, receiver server 125 is provided to managecellular communications 131. Additionally, or alternatively, an HTML orXML server 127 may be provided to handle bi-directional input 129.

It should be understood that the location-aware clients could belocation-aware clients that are wireless connected to a local areawireless network such as that possible using 802.11 ethernet technologyand that that remain relatively stationary with respect to globalposition.

1.B.2. Wired: It should also be understood that the location-awareclients could be connected using a hard-wired network, such as a cabletelevision communication network or a fiber optic communication network.Of course, in such hard-wired applications, the location aware clientappliances remain relatively stationary.

1.C. Delivery of content: In accordance with the preferred embodiment,transmission of information in the form of digital content can bebroadcast or narrowcast in direct response to a user request or may bebroadcast or narrowcast due to the relevancy of the information to theuser's current contexts.

1.C.1. Delivery in Response to User Request: User requested informationis information that the user wishes to have, but must actively searchfor and retrieve. By this, it is meant that the information will not bepresented to the user without some action taken by the user. An exampleof user requested content is obtaining a telephone number from directoryassistance. Unless the user initiates a phone call to directoryassistance and specifies the name of the individual or business forwhich he or she needs the phone number, the desired phone number willnot seek out and deliver itself to the user.

1.C.2. Delivery Based on Context: Contextually relevant content iscontent that is relevant to the client's current contexts, such as time,place and preferences. Examples of contextually relevant information:Pizza coupon delivered to a household that is in the recent vicinity ofa pizza restaurant is contextually relevant information; and a trafficinformation display above a highway or interstate that displays trafficconditions on the road ahead.

1.C.3. Subscription: Prior request or permission for information to bedelivered later either in context or not.

2. Creating Value

By delivering information in context, the client device creates a greatdeal of value for the user by reducing the amount of time that the userspends actively seeking the information that he or she wants.

2.A. Creating value for users: Delivering information in context createsa great deal of value for users by reducing the amount of time thatusers spends actively seeking the information that they wish to have.Rather than the individual being required to take the time to locate andacquire information, contextual delivery allows the information to besent to the user without the user's attention so that the user may viewthe information at his or her convenience.

2.A.1. Feeling connected: The social nature of humans typically makesthem want to feel connected to their friends and to the communitiesaround them with which they interact. The information that provides thisconnected feeling includes, but is not limited to, is the location andavailability of other individuals, news that publicizes the currentsituations of celebrity individuals, events and activities involvingchurch and community organizations, and events and activities involvingfriends and relatives.

2.A.2. Keeping up with what is important, such as news.

2.A.3. Reminders (in time and space) After setting and naming ageographic region and/or time range, a user can set a reminding alert tobe triggered upon entry or exit of this named space.

2.A.4. Communicating

2.A.4.a. Instant Messaging (IM): Instant messages are transferred withminimal latency between the sender and recipient. The recipient can seta notification of the incoming message. Instant messaging also allowsthe sender to know if the recipient is available to receive a message.Within the context of the present invention, instant messages arecarried through the network as with any other routed digital content.The current status of the recipient is presented through the generalizedawareness model which operates through a hidden subscription model. Userstatus information is published and this information is pushed to userswho have the proper level of authorization.

2.A.4.b. E-mail

2.A.4.c. Voice

2.A.5. Finding what they need, such as news articles, drivingdirections, addresses, phone numbers, contact information, merchandise,food, clothing, and entertainment.

2.A.5.a. Contextual searches (e.g., driving direction from currentlocation).

2.A.6. Rich media experience: Dynamic, animated full-color graphics.

2.B. Creating value for developers: The following features of thepresent invention create value for developers:

2.B.1. Higher level development environment (through scripting of MMFlash);

2.B.2. “Mobile Flash” extensions; and

2.B.3. Best environment to create low-bandwidth, rich media, highinteraction.

2.C. Creating value for wireless operators: The following features ofthe present invention create value for wireless operator:

2.C.1. 3G experience on a 2.5G packet network

2.C.2. Lets operators be more than a data pipe

2.C.3. First platform that can be monetized: Each and every piece ofdigital content is accompanied by a plurality of revenue/expense datarepresenting things like revenue/expense of acquisition of the digitalcontent, revenue/expense to deliver the digital content over variouschannels, revenue/expense for user to view the digital content, andrevenue/expense to interact with the digital content. Bookkeepingoperations are performed at every stage of the transport of the digitalcontent and balances are kept. These account balances are used influencethe delivery probabilities of this digital content.

2.D. Creating value for device manufacturers: The following features ofthe present invention create value for device manufactures:

2.D.1. Wireless, rich media reference design.

2.D.2. Hooks to recurring revenue: Since the originator and transportagents of digital content on this network are specifically identifiedfor each piece of digital content, ongoing revenues (if any) can beapportioned to each as they are due.

2.E. Creating value for merchants: The following features of the presentinvention create value for merchants:

2.E.1. Rich media.

2.E.2. Contextual analysis of data.

2.E.3. Aggregated user data.

2.E.4. Transactional capability: Because the plurality ofrevenue/expense data associated with each piece of digital content canrepresent revenue for the user, merchants can set up campaigns thatreward or debit users for certain behaviors, interactions, ortransactions. For example, a piece of digital content which has acertain location contextual sensitivity could reward a user if theyapproach a physical storefront. Also, another piece of digital contentrepresenting a digital coupon upon interaction could debit a usersaccount.

3. Basic Concepts

The types of information described above can be represented in a digitalformat that can be generated, stored, manipulated and transmitted bycomputers. The digital format of this information is what is termed“digital content” or simply “content.”

3.A. Content: Content is the primary digital construct on which thenetwork platform operates. The network platform establishes anenvironment, in which content is created, wrapped (i.e., defined interms of meta-data), routed, delivered, presented, and refreshed. Thenetwork platform constitutes an infrastructure to satisfy thecontent-related objectives of both content providers and consumers.

Because of the digital nature of the network, there exists a need torepresent real-world information, such as that described above insection 2, as digital content that a computer can store, manipulate andtransmit. Information can be represented as digital content in manydifferent textual and graphical forms. For example, a restaurantestablishment may publish its address and times during which theestablishment is open to patrons in a simple textual format or bygenerating graphical advertisements for potential patrons to see. Peoplemay wish to make their context information available in a textual formatand even a picture accessible in a graphical format. Communications suchas instant messages and email are typically represented in a textualformat. Events such as concerts and movies are typically represented inaudio or video formats.

The network platform is content-centric, in that it provides acontext-based vehicle for routing, packaging, presenting, andinteracting with content. The network platform utilizes an expandeddefinition of content that treats (1) everything that is displayed on,or potentially displayed on, the screen; and (2) user requests as itemsof content. This content-centric perspective enables a wide variety ofthings, all considered content items by the platform to be treated bythe system in the same uniform, but flexible, way. In essence thisapproach creates an organic system populated by content items that aretreated and behave as living organisms. In this system content items canself-route and self-organize. This approach provides a unique andelegant layering between content presentation mechanisms and contentdelivery, packaging, and scheduling mechanisms.

3.A.1. Elements: Content exists in the network platform in three parts:(1) a data form that contains the information, (2) the presentationwhich is visually and audibly shown to users, and (3) a meta-data formthat is a descriptive profile of the data and that can exist separatefrom the data.

The meta-data form, hereafter referred to as the “wrapper”, is used bythe computational mechanisms in the network platform to route, deliver,present and refresh the data form, hereafter referred to as the “contentitem” or “content items”. Thus, the wrapper provides all the informationneeded for the content items to behave appropriately and effectively inthe network platform. That is, the wrapper, by interacting with thenetwork platform's computational environment, controls the behavior ofthe content items throughout the system. In this way, each content itemacts in ways that are congruent with its intended objectives.

Hereafter, the wrapper and associated data and presentation elements aretogether referred to as “content.”

3.A.1.a. Meta-data (wrapper): Additionally, the content of messages Athrough G may be analyzed and “coded” as corresponding to particulartypes of content. For example, the communication of message B relates tocontent subjects X, Y. Additionally, the advertisement of message E frommerchant 2 relates to content L, M. In practice, the network may managehundreds or thousands of categories of subject matter. The network mayrequire that members, including users and merchants, enter or selectcategory designations or key words in order to allow sorting andanalysis of the message. Alternatively, a software agent could beestablished which parses the content of the message and infers itscontent. This would lessen the burden on the merchant and the users butmay result in some misidentification or miscategorization of the digitalcontent. In accordance with the present invention, privacy, preference,and content information is utilized in order to filter, accelerate,prioritize, or block particular types of content.

Additionally, as has been discussed previously, location information mayalso be an important basis for transmitting, sorting, or prioritizingcommunications.

Wrappers point to one or more content items and can exist in the systemindependent of the content items to which the wrappers point. Thisindependence provides the ability for wrappers carrying information-richmeta-data to move around the network without the overhead of moving allof the data in the content items themselves. This is beneficial becausewrappers contain data in binary and/or textual format and tend to bemuch smaller in size than the content items which typically contain datain a graphical and/or audio format and tend to be much larger in size.Thus, content is often treated referentially. A data structure containedin the wrapper, called a header, contains zero or more links toassociated content item(s) and provides the basis for the referencebetween a given content item(s) and the wrapper(s) that point to it. Acontent item can be pointed to by more than one wrapper. This permitsthe reuse of content items across different presentation packages or thecategorization of contents at multiple cognitive levels. Presentationpackages refer to complete sets of one or more content items thattogether form a screen-ready presentation. Each presentation package isdefined by a wrapper and is unique in the system. Empty wrappers (thosepointing to zero content items) are used to probe and gatherintelligence about probable content needs and to make contentdistribution more effective and efficient.

3.A.1.a.1. Purposes:

All content items have wrappers. The wrappers provide information forthe following purposes.

1. Separates meta-data about the content from the content itself, thusenabling efficient routing and delivery. This enables routing to devicesby proactive probing (need to elaborate).

2. Uniquely identifies a complete content presentation package.

3. Integrates content items into complete presentation packages.

4. Controls both specified routing and self-routing of content.

5. Specifying several parameters that control the presentation ofcontent (e.g., maximum number of plays, loneliness interval).

-   -   a. Prerequisites: These control the sequencing of multiple        presentation packages.    -   b. Time/space contextual sensitivities that impact the neediness        of content in context.    -   c. Maximum number of plays.    -   d. Loneliness constant.    -   e. Preliminary specific preference rating (similarity rating        through relationship network).

6. Specifies the life span of content.

7. Includes an inferred preference rating.

3.A.1.a.2. Components: Wrappers consist of tagged data elements that areorganized into three major structures: a header, sensitivities, andcontent-association key(s). The structures are for organizationalpurposes only and should not be considered a limiting construct of thewrapper. The wrapper may include the data elements listed, but is notlimited to these elements and optional data elements may be present insome cases. In addition, some data elements are optional and are notrequired for every content item. Each of the major structures isdescribed in more detail in the following sections.

3.A.1.a.2.a. Header: Header information is the first major part of thewrapper meta-data about content packages.

i. Content ID: The content ID is a unique identifier that is used toidentify a content item. It prevents collisions with content items withidentical IDs, preventing multiple instances of the same content item.An example of a unique identifier would be a CRC (checksum calculatedusing a polynomial algorithm) generated from the content item's digitaldata.

ii. Content type: An identifier that identifies the broad category ofthe content item. For example, game, music, message, etc.

iii. Node destination: Lists one or more node ID's to which the wrapperwill be routed. Node ID's refer to the nodes in the relationshipnetwork, to be discussed later. This may exist in different formats.These should not be confused with content ID's. If no destination nodesare listed, then the wrapper is self-routing and uses locationsensitivities specified elsewhere in the wrapper for routing.

iv. Node origin: The node ID from which the content originates.

v. Delivery latency: A time latency specified by the content creator.This latency is used to schedule the delivery of content efficiently onthe basis its presentation needs. For example, a content item that willnot be presented for a week need not be delivered until it is availablefor presentation. This is similar to a just-in-time delivery strategy.It permits the memory on the device to be used for the neediest content.

vi. Creation time: A time stamp indicating the time and date at whichthe wrapper was created.

vii. Expiration time: A time stamp indicating the time and date at whichthe content item will expire, and no longer be available to be selectedfor presentation.

viii. Linkage count: The number of content items that need to puttogether to form a complete content presentation package. This may bezero for probing wrappers.

ix. Linkages list: The list of content ID's for the content items thatform the complete content presentation package that is defined by thewrapper. The number of ID's must equal the value of the Linkage countvariable.

x. Package status: A binary value that indicates whether or not all ofthe content items listed in the linkages list are ready and availablefor presentation. When this value is “no,” the presentation is blocked.

3.A.1.a.2.b. Sensitivities: Sensitivities are the second major structureof the wrapper. Sensitivities are expressed as context variable valueconditions that are important to the content package. Matches betweenthese value conditions and the current context trigger changes incontent-related behaviors and computations.

i. Prerequisite Count: The number of prerequisite presentation packages.

ii. Prerequisite List: A list of content ID's that specify theprerequisite presentation packages for the package defined by thewrapper. A prerequisite refers to a presentation package that must beplayed before the package that lists it as a prerequisite. Thus, aprerequisite will block presentation of a package listing it until theprerequisite is presented. If more than one prerequisite is listed, anyone of them can satisfy the prerequisite, similar to an exclusive ORoperator. Each prerequisite is specified in terms of the followingvariables:

-   -   a. Content ID.    -   b. Acceptence variable.

iii. Space/Time Dimple Count: The number of space/time sensitivityareas.

iv. Space/Time Dimple List: The specification of times and/or places inwhich the neediness value of the presentation package is impacted. Theimpact can be either positive or negative.

-   -   1. Space/time Cylinder: Specifies the expansiveness of the        sensitivity area.    -   2. Sensitivity Value: Specifies the degree and direction of        impact on neediness.

v. Max Views: The maximum number of times the presentation package canbe presented on a single device.

vi. Habit Model Category Flags: The list of habit model categories thatwill impact the neediness of the presentation package when they aretriggered.

vii. Presentation Characteristics:

viii. PG-Rating Flags: These provide a means to enable parental controlover the types of content that a minor device-holder can have access to.These flags provide a blocking mechanism for content.

ix. Initial Specific Rating: The relationship network enablesdevice-holders to create valued links to other device-holders. One typeof value associated with a link is a directed similarity rating. Increating a link and applying a similarity rating the originatingdevice-holder is indicating that the terminating device-holder hassimilar content preferences, at least to the degree of the rating. Whenthe terminating device-holder rates content these ratings arecommunicated through the network so as to set the preference rating forthe same presentation package on the originating device-holder's device,if that same package has not yet been rated by the originatingdevice-holder.

x. Earn or burn: Values indicating the degree to which the presentationof the package will burn or earn the currency of network energy. Thevalue can be a fixed amount or a rate.

xi. Is Earn or Burn a Rate Flag: A binary value (yes/no) indicatingwhether or not the value of the earn or burn field is a rate andaccumulates with interaction.

xii. Additional Rating Earn (for rating content):

xiii. Loneliness Time Constant: A time value that specifies the intervalover which a presentation package's neediness will return to a nominalvalue and beyond following its presentation.

xiv. Is Interruptive Flag: A binary value, i.e., “yes” or “no,”indicating whether or not the presentation package can interrupt thenormal flow of content on the device screen. Interruptive content mayhave the effect of replacing currently playing content on the screenbefore that content is finished.

xv. Can Be Mentor: A binary value, i.e., “yes” or “no,” indicatingwhether or not the presentation package, when it is explicitly rated,can be used as a mentor for other content.

xvi. Is It a Question. Flag which converts rating actions to surveyinput.

3.A.1.a.2.c. Associations: Content associations are the third major partof the wrapper. Associations are used to compute the degree ofsimilarity among content items.

In the content selection engine (server-side, to be discussed later),content item similarity is used for content selection. On the clientscheduler, it can be used for automatic assignment of content items toarrangements.

The set of associations constitutes a model of the abstracted semanticstructure of content items. Each association is modeled as a dimensionfor a given characteristic of content. Dimension can model either aunipolar association (e.g., movies), or a bipolar association (e.g.,sedentary—active). There are two main types of associations: categoriesand properties. Neither categories nor properties alone provide asatisfactory model of the content relationships (as content is definedherein) that are needed to produce robust inductive inferences aboutuser preferences. What is needed is a model that can represent bothcategories and properties in a way that permits inferences to be madefrom complex combinations of both.

Collectively, the content associations specify a set of semanticdimensions along which content items can be modeled. The dimensionsdescribe an N-dimensional Euclidean space, where N is the number ofdimensions. Each content item is assigned a value along each dimension,thus a given content item is represented by an point in theN-dimensional semantic space.

Values are assigned to dimensions on the basis of a subjective judgmentthat answers the question “to what degree is the category or featurethat is represented by the dimension associated with the content item?”The “associated with” judgment subsumes all of the more specific typesof relationships content items can have with each other. That is, therelationships such as: is, is a, is a type of, is a property of, has,has a, contains, and is contained in, among others are all included inthe “associated with” assessment. Thus, the model provides a broad reachfor computing similarity across complex inter-content relationships.

In the present technique inter-content item similarity is computed as adistance between the points occupied by each content item in theN-dimensional space. That is, the content association model defines ageneric and fixed semantic structure that can be used to compute thesimilarity between any number of content items. This means that inapplying the content association model, the number of judgments to bemade is fixed and independent of the number of content items beingmodeled. Mapping a content item to a point in the space always involvesthe assigning values to the same number of dimensions. Computing thedistance between two content items always involves the same number ofcomparisons. This is accomplished by uncoupling the associationdimensions from the content items themselves.

To sum up, the content association model meets the following needs andprovides the following advantages. The content association model:

1. Is not category or feature specific, and provides a unified treatmentof categories and properties as dimensions. This enables complexmultidimensional relationships that cut across both categories andproperties to be identified.

2. Incorporates a pre-defined, finite and stable number of judgmentsthat are independent of the number of content items being modeled.

3. Defines an absolute (rather than a relative) semantic structure thatis based on dimensions, rather than on a specific set of content itemsand their relationships

4. Employs “degree associated with” judgments the include all otherspecific relationships, thus, creating a greater reach by being able toestablish relationships that cut across specific types of relationships.

5. Provides for gradations (fuzziness) in the assignment of thecharacteristic to content items.

6. Can include both unipolar and bipolar dimensions

7. Can be used to assess similarity in a computationally efficient way.

A set of association dimensions is listed below separated into groups.The content association model is not limited to these specificassociations or the specific number of dimensions.

Category Associations include:

Media associations include: movies, TV, music, radio, books, magazines,periodicals, live performances, telecommunications, Internet, and WWW.

Music genre associations include: classic, pop, rock, country/western,jazz, and edge.

Restaurant genre associations include: fast food, seafood, bistro/café,barbeque, and deli.

Other genre associations include: drama, comedy, action, horror, sci-fi,fantasy, documentary.

Recreation and activity associations include: sports, games, food,beverages, cars, motorcycles, boats, shopping, travel, and sightseeing.

Participatory activities associations include: games, general sports,winter sports, water sports, bicycling, roller blading, and skateboarding.

Lifestyle associations include: lifestyle, advice, clothes, fashion,beauty, dating, romance, fitness, and health.

Gender associations include: masculine and feminine.

Education associations include: school, education, government, culture,and religion.

Work associations include: jobs and public service.

Content type associations include: message, game, entertainment item(includes visual and musical), interface skins and other similar typesof things, event announcement, offer, advertisement, review, data (e.g.,weather, sports scores, stock quotes), question, geo notice, generalnews, service provider message, and personal account information (fromservice provider or other e-commerce entity).

Ethnic associations include: American, Cajun, British, French, Italian,Mexican, Spanish, Carribian, Indian, Greek, German, Chinese, Japanese,African, Middle-Eastern,

Property associations include:

Emotional associations include: violence, sexual, tragedy, romance,serious, and fun.

Spatial associations include: local, urban, and rural.

Temporal associations include: near-term, one-time, repetitive, brief,and time-consuming.

Activity associations include: sedentary and active.

Cognitive associations include: popular and intellectual.

Social associations include: solitary and shared.

Other associations include: classiness, inside, outside, quiet, loud,functional, and artistic.

Interactive associations include: fixed, mobile, and interactiveness.

Physical associations include: physical and virtual.

3.A.1.b. Data (Content item): Content items are the element (or form) ofcontent that contains the information that is visually and/or audiblypresented to users. Content items may exist in many digital forms. Theymay exist as a movie in a presentation format such as a Macromedia Flashor Apple QuickTime, or they may exist as a still JPEG or GIF graphicimage. Content items may also exist as textual or graphical informationthat must be combined with one or more additional content items forpresentation, such as a an XML file that requires a Macromedia Flashmovie to act as a template that parses in the XML data and presents itin a Macromedia Flash player.

As mentioned above, content items may exist in many digital forms.Macromedia Flash is an optimum format with which to deliver maximumvalue to all of the users of network 11. Macromedia Flash is a completesolution incorporating:

1. A compact, space-efficient file format that is well matched tocurrent wireless data network capacities;

2. An interactive user presentation based on a time-based animationformat;

3. A file format that can contain a large number of rich vector andraster image formats like JPEG and GIF, and a number of audio formatslike MP3 and WAV;

4. A small and highly efficient graphics rendering engine well matchedto current handheld device capabilities;

5. An object-based procedural scripting language; and

6. A complete set of authoring tools.

While Macromedia Flash is a complete solution, other language and dataformats may be used. Other language formats include but are not limitedto HTML, DHTML, CHTML, WML and Apple QuickTime. Other data formatsinclude, but are not limited to plain text, MP3, WAV, MIDI, JPEG, GIFand PNG.

3.A.2. Routing: Content items can be created and injected into thenetwork from a variety of origins and need to be distributed to variousdestinations in the network. Routing is the process of efficiently andintelligently directing content items from their point of origin in thenetwork to their appropriate destinations. Content items are routed intwo basic ways.

Destination-specific routing is used to direct a content item to one ormore specifically identified destinations. This method is used whenspecific destinations in the networks are known.

Self-routing is used to direct a content item to all destinations (i.e.,users) that the system predicts will need or want the content item. Nospecific destinations are targeted.

These predictions are formed in the process of making probabilisticcontent selections for individual users using several types ofinformation about the content items, content item interrelationships,and users.

See Section 6 below for a more complete discussion of routingmechanisms.

3.A.2.a. Specifically routed: Messages with a destination, such ascontent targeting a certain/specific place, but if a broadcast channelexists, it might be done a different way.

3.A.2.b. Self routed: Content Similarity is concerned with what it meansfor two pieces of content to be similar to each other, and why it isnecessary to know this. This refers to how similar the wrapper contextsensitivities are, not the actual content. There may be a need to probemore deeply into the actual data part of the content (when it is text)for certain similarity computations (beyond searching).

The present invention uses the content similarity in two applications:finding content “mentors” and self-organizing grouping.

In finding mentors is identifying specifically rated content that theuser is likely to have a similar opinion about. Of course, this processcan never be exact, but it does not have to be, it need only representsome first order approximation to a level of similarity.

The present invention limits what is compared to four categories:

1. The basic type of wrapper (game, offer, IM, question, etc.) (match orno match).

2. Who the originator of the content is (match or no match).

3. Location/time cylinder proximity (this is a value).

4. Content Associations (this is a Euclidean distance between all 96dimensions of associations).

The routines should be set up to filter the parameters that participatein the similarity calculation (e.g., “similar in what way?”). For thefirst three listed above, this is just use/do not use, for theassociations, it is a mask for each association.

When selecting mentors, Content Associations are the primary mechanism,with location/time being secondarily used.

For grouping calculations, initially all factors are taken intoconsideration, but user actions can modify which fields are used forsimilarity testing i.e., adding something to an arrangement identifieswhat is the differences that don't matter—removing a something from atree identifies fields where similarity is apparently not significant.

The similarity calculations are straightforward equality checks for thetype of wrapper and originator of content. The location/time cylindercomparisons are relatively simple distance calculations returning adistance and an intersection flag. The content association calculationsappear more complex, but are really just simple distance calculationsdone in an efficient way using bit-wise math.

3.A.3. Auto-updateable. This section is explained below.

3.A.3.a. Subscriptions. This topic is explained below.

3.B. Context: Context influences the delivery and presentation ofcontent to a user. A variety of factors, circumstances and conditionsdescribe the current context and affect the probability of contentdelivery and presentation.

Context is maintained on the client device through various mechanismsthat obtain and store context state information including but notlimited to time, location, named places (time/space cylinders) and userpreferences (ratings). Different aspects of context influence contentdelivery and presentation in different ways. These aspects include, butare not limited to 1) device context such as battery level and networkconnection status, 2) objective context such as time, location, useridentity and account balance, 3) subjective context such as active userinteraction and PG-rating filter, and 4) preference context such ascontent ratings.

Context may include, but is not limited to:

3.B.1. Device context

-   -   a. Is it connected to network?    -   b. Is it connected to computer?    -   c. Is it battery powered?    -   d. Is location known?    -   e. Is pipe fat?    -   f. Is screen active?    -   g. Is front light on?    -   h. Is headphone in?    -   i. What is the battery level?    -   j. What is the network connection status?    -   k. Where GPS status ?    -   l. What is the state of the input devices?    -   m. Is the expansion slot full?    -   n. What is the user currently doing?    -   o. Is a phone call in progress?

3.B.2. Objective context

-   -   a. Location (GPS):    -   1. The location-aware feature of the present invention allows        the device to determine its geographical location at all times.        This location information can be used by the habit modeling        software on the device and it may be transmitted by the user to        other users on network 11 so that the other users may maintain        awareness of the location of the transmitting user. The        preferred location-aware system is a conventional GPS that will        be adapted such that the user may assign colloquial names, or        aliases, to actual locations to maintain privacy and security        when the user's location is transmitted to other users on        network 11.    -   2. An alternate location-aware system works in conjunction with        the preferred GPS system when signals from the GPS system are        weak or masked by geological features. A current alternate        system uses the location of towers T1, T2, and TN and signal        triangulation to supplement the GPS system. If a user is        communicating over a specific tower T1, T2, or TN, and the GPS        system loses location awareness, network 11 will monitor which        tower T1, T2, or TN is being used. It may be possible to regain        the device's approximate location through signal triangulation.        Such approximate location information may be used until the GPS        system regains location awareness. Recorded changes in the tower        being used, made before the GPS system regains location        awareness, indicate to network 11 that the user's location has        changed. Location changes that are recorded due to tower changes        are not assigned as much weight or reliability as location        changes recorded by the GPS system. Thus, the confidence placed        by network 11 in the device's actual location may be affected by        the method in which the location awareness information is        obtained.    -   3. It should be understood that the location-aware system may        also work simply with the location information from individual        towers T1, T2, or TN.    -   b. Current space-time cylinder: According to the present        invention, the range of GPS positions associated with the        particular generalized location identifiers described above are        modeled on the following:        -   1. A two dimensional polygon space;        -   2. A three dimensional polygon space;        -   3. A circle;        -   4. A cylinder;        -   5. A combinations of shapes;        -   6. Clustered circle shapes; and/or        -   7. Clustered cylindrical shapes.    -   c. Named location category:        -   1. As regions and/or time ranges are named by the user, they            may be categorized into general categories such as home,            school, work, etc. In this situation, the generalized            location identifiers include at least user-defined general            location identifiers. This location category is made            available as another element of the current context which,            when interacting with a matching contextual sensitivity in a            digital content wrapper can influence the probability of the            presentation of content in the stream.

As mentioned above, network 11 manages user location information as“fuzzy” data. In other words, network 11 does not identify the user'slocation in terms of raw GPS data, such as longitude and latitude, butinstead manages data based upon colloquial names for the locations. Forexample, the designators “home,” “school,” “mall,” “Work place,”“restaurant A,” “restaurant B,” “game arcade” may be utilized in lieu ofprecise GPS data. This is necessary in order to preserve the privacy ofthe user and to minimize safety issues relating to the precise locationof users, particularly adolescents. In contrast, however, thenon-adolescent entities that are members of network 11 or commerciallyaffiliated with network 11 may, in fact, be unconcerned about theprivacy and security issues related to the precise or exact location oftheir places of operation. For example, a video game arcade and therestaurants which are identified as places frequented by a particularuser may have a precisely known location within a database on network11.

The utilization of fuzzy data to identify user location is one means ofdiminishing the communication bandwidth requirements of the network 11.Another means of achieving bandwidth efficiency comes from notcontinuously transmitting the user's geographic location. For thepresent invention, there is little or no need to constantly transmit theuser's GPS location, either in fuzzy form or raw data. The location ofthe user is only transmitted to network 11 when the user changeslocation. In the preferred embodiment, each time the user identifies aparticular location with an alias or colloquial name, network 11 assignsand associates a selected geographic region around that particularlocation to the alias or colloquial name. For example, if the user goesto her work place and, while sitting at her desk, designates thatlocation as “work,” all other locations within a selected radius willalso be considered by network 11 as “work.” In this manner, the user isfree to move about at her work place without triggering transmissionsher GPS location to network 11.

Also, in order to maximize privacy and security for adolescent users,the timing and manner in which location-aware wireless communicationappliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 communicate their location to network11 is largely under the control of the user. In other words,location-aware wireless communication appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5will not automatically and periodically announce their location innetwork 11. Location-aware wireless communication appliances D1, D2, D3,D4, and D5 will announce their location to network 11 when, and if, theindividual user desires to establish an “on” status for use by network11 and receipt of network traffic.

FIG. 1F is a simplified pictorial representation of how network 11 ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention manages location datain a “fuzzy” management style. FIG. 1F depicts a metropolitan region 201which is serviced in general by a plurality of wireless communicationtowers, including towers 203, 205, 207, 209 and 211. Each tower 203,205, 207, 209 and 211 is adapted to serve a particular service region,including service regions 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221. In other words,the communication capabilities of towers 203, 205, 207, 209 and 211 isdesigned in order to provide good coverage over a pre-determined serviceregion within metropolitan region 201. In the aggregate, towers 203,205, 207, 209, 211 provide widespread coverage throughout metropolitanregion 201. If a user is traveling across the metropolitan region 201,towers 203, 205, 207, 209 and 211 will “hand off” communication tasks asthe user approaches the outer boundaries of service regions 213, 215,217, 219, and 221. Preferably, towers 203, 205, 207, 209 and 211 arelocated within metropolitan region 201 such that the outer boundaries ofservice regions 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221 overlap by a small amount,thereby ensuring continuous and complete communication coveragethroughout metropolitan region 201.

Within each service region 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221, there may be aplurality of favorite locations which have been so designated by aparticular user. Additionally, within each service region 213, 215, 217,219, and 221, there is preferably a plurality of network affiliates whoadvertise particular goods and services over network 11. Such networkaffiliates may be either non-profit or for-profit entities. The networkaffiliates may also generate consumable digital content and provide suchdigital content to network 11 and all or selected users of network 11for consumption. This digital content may be provided for a fee, at nocharge in the manner of “shareware” digital content, or in the manner ofconventional broadcast communications, such as radio, television, orsatellite.

In the view of FIG. 1F, service region 213 includes two favoritelocations selectively identified by an exemplary user, namely, favoritelocations 225 and 227. Favorite locations 225 and 227 are identifiedwithin network 11 by selected colloquial designations provided by theuser. A plurality of network affiliates are also located within serviceregion 213, including network affiliates 253, 255, 257, 259, and 261.Service region 213 is serviced by wireless communication tower 203. Ifthe user is within service region 213, and has established an “on”status, network 11 will “know” that the user is located within thecoverage range of tower 203, and thus, located within region 213.Accordingly, network 11 will preferentially direct communications,digital content, and other network traffic, particularly from favoritelocations 225 and 227, which are specific to service region 213 to theuser.

Continuing with the example of FIG. 1F, the same applies for serviceregion 215 which is serviced by wireless communication tower 205. Inservice region 215, the user has marked two favorite locations, namelyfavorite locations 229 and 231. Favorite locations 229 and 231 areidentified within network 11 by selected colloquial designationsprovided by the user. A plurality of network affiliates are preferablylocated within region 215, including network affiliates 263, 265, 267,269, 271, 273, and 278. If the user engages network 11 while withinservice region 215, the wireless communication will be conducted throughtower 205. Accordingly, network 11 will “know” that the user is locatedwithin region 215. Network 11 may then preferentially directcommunications, digital content, and other network traffic which arerelevant to service region 215 to the user.

Continuing with the example, the same is true for service region 217.Service region 217 is serviced by wireless communication tower 207. Theuser has selectively identified a plurality of favorite locations withinregion 207, including favorite locations 233, 235, and 237. Favoritelocations 233, 235, and 237 are identified within network 11 by selectedcolloquial designations provided by the user. Additionally, there ispreferably a plurality of network affiliates located within serviceregion 207, including network affiliates 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, 285,287, 289, and 291, all of which provide various goods, services, ordigital content. When the user engages network 11 within service region217, network 11 will “know” that the user is located within serviceregion 217, and may then preferentially direct digital content,messages, and advertisements that are relevant to service region 217 tothe user.

Continuing with the example of FIG. 1F, service region 219 is servicedby wireless communication tower 209. The user has selectively identifieda plurality of favorite locations within service region 219, includingfavorite locations 239, 241, 243, and 245. Favorite locations 239, 241,243, and 245 are identified within network 11 by selected colloquialdesignations provided by the user. Additionally, there is preferably aplurality of network affiliates located within service region 219,including network affiliates 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307,309, 311, 313, 315, and 317. When the user engages network 11 whilelocated within service region 219, wireless communication will beestablished via tower 209. Accordingly, network 11 will “know” that theuser is located within region 219. With this information, network 11 maypreferentially direct communications, messages, and digital content,particularly from favorite locations 239, 241, 243, and 245, and othernetwork affiliates located within region 219 to the user.

Continuing with the example of FIG. 1F, service region 221 is servicedby wireless communication tower 211. There is a plurality of favoritelocations selectively identified by the user that are located withinservice region 221, including favorite locations 247, 249, and 251.Favorite locations 247, 249, and 251 are identified within network 11 byselected colloquial designations provided by the user. Additionally,there is preferably a plurality of network affiliates located withinservice region 221, including network affiliates 319, 321, 325, 327,329, and 331. If the user is within service region 221, and hasestablished an “on” status, network 11 will “know” the user is withinservice region 221. Accordingly, network 11 may preferentially directdigital content, messages, and advertisements that are relevant toservice region 221 to the user.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,favorite locations 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243,245, 247, 249, and 251 within metropolitan region 201 are identifiedthrough user decision and user action by the particular user. Some offavorite locations 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243,245, 247, 249, and 251 represent places which are personal to the userand which have no precisely known location within network 11. Forexample, a relative's house may be known to network 11 only by acolloquial designation, such as “Aunt Jane's house.” Additionally, theuser's home may also be known only colloquially within network 11 as“home;” however, the true location, including GPS location and streetaddress, for “home” may be known at some secure level within network 11,in order to guard the privacy and to ensure the safety of the user. Forexample, the address of “home” may be known by network 11 for billingand other communication purposes only. Some favorite places, such as“Aunt Jane's house,” may never have a known precise location, so far asnetwork 11 is concerned. However, network 11 will “know” what region“Aunt Jane's house” is in, merely by knowing the identity of thewireless communication tower 203, 205, 207, 209, or 211 that servicesthe user when he or she is at “Aunt Jane's house.”

The example of FIG. 1F can be considered more fully in combination withthe exemplary data arrays depicted in the tables of FIGS. 1G (1 of 5)through 1G (5 of 5). FIGS. 1G (1 of 5) through 1G (5 of 5) aresimplified representations of the relationships between towers 203, 205,207, 209, and 211; service regions 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221; favoritelocations 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247,249, and 251; and network affiliates 319, 321, 325, 327, 329, and 331.FIG. 1G (1 of 5) represents tower 203 and service region 213. As isshown, service regions 215 and 221 are listed as adjoining serviceregions. Network 11 knows that adjoining service regions 215 and 221 areadjacent to region 213. As shown in the table, favorite places 225 and227 have been colloquially identified by the user over time as RidingStables 225 and Water Park 227, respectively. Some favorite locationsmay also be network affiliates; therefore, their precise GPS locationand street address may be known to network 11. However, if a favoritelocation 225 or 227 is not yet a network affiliate, its precise GPSlocation and street address may not be known to network 11. RidingStables 225 and Water Park 227 have been identified by affirmativeaction of the user and denote favorite locations and/or activities ofthe user. As shown in the next column of the table, a plurality ofnetwork affiliates 253, 255, 257, 259, and 261 are known by network 11as Game Arcade 253, Video Store 255, Taco Stand 257, Book Store 259, andRiding Supply Store 261, respectively. Because these entities arenetwork affiliates of network 11, their precise GPS location and streetaddress are known to network 11. When the user is within region 213 andcommunicating with network 11 via tower 203, Game Arcade 253, VideoStore 255, Taco Stand 257, Book Store 259, and Riding Supply Store 261,may have their advertisements, communications, and/or digital contentpreferentially directed or routed to the user's location-aware wirelesscommunication appliance, such as appliance D1.

As will be discussed in much greater detail below, the user determinesthe types of messages, advertisements, and digital content that arepulled from network 11 and transmitted to the user's appliance D1. Thesepreferences or desires may be determined by appliance D1 and network 11through analysis of the user's behavior and activities, or throughdirect questioning or interaction with the user. In the current example,since the user obviously enjoys riding stables and water parks,advertisements, communications, and/or digital content originating by,through, or from Riding Supply Store 261 may be preferentially pulledfrom network 11 and transmitted to the user's appliance D1. Becausenetwork 11 knows, if alerted, that the user is within the communicationrange of tower 203, network 11 may preferentially direct suchcommunications from Riding Supply Store 261 to the user upon theassumption that communications and advertisements made while the user iswithin proximity to Riding Supply Store 261 may be more effective thancommunications and advertisements communicated when the user is locatedin a region of metropolitan region 201 that is remote from Riding SupplyStore 261.

As an additional example, through the extensive profiling of the user,network 11 may “know” that the user has little or no interest in videogames. Accordingly, communications and advertisements from Game Arcade253 may be blocked or barred from communication to that particular user.In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as will bediscussed in much greater detail below, there is always some possibilitythat communications relating to subject matters outside known interestsof the user will be communicated to the user. However, network 11includes a probabilistic modeling system for determining whichcommunications or digital content more closely fit the user profile.Based on this probabilistic modeling system, appliance D1 determineswhich communications to pull from network 11 and transmit to the user.Accordingly, there is a higher probability of relevant communicationsoccurring and a lower probability of less relevant communicationsoccurring.

It is also important to note that if the user has established an “on”status, network 11 is aware of the service region in which the user islocated and all adjoining service regions. In this manner, network 11 iscapable of monitoring travel across service regions 213, 215, 217, 219,and 221, and may make sophisticated analyses of such travel based uponlocation, time, and changes in location and time, in order to inferaction or purpose. These attributes will be discussed in greater detailbelow.

Continuing with the example, FIG. 1G (2 of 5) represents tower 205 andservice region 215. As is shown, service regions 213, 217, and 221 arelisted as adjoining service regions. Network 11 “knows” that adjoiningservice regions 213, 217, and 221 are adjacent to service region 215. Asshown in the table, favorite places 229, 231, and 233 have beencolloquially identified by the user over time as Aunt Jane's House 229,Linear Park 231, and Pottery Supply Store 227, respectively. Of course,as the user utilizes appliance D1, the user is unaware of which towercovers which service regions. Consequently, the user is unaware of thegroupings of favorite places made by network 11, as they correspond totower identification, tower coverage, and service region identification.

As is shown in this example, a plurality of network affiliates 263, 265,267, 269, 271, 273, and 278 reside within service region 215 and areknown by network 11 as 24-Hour Gym 263, Ice Skating Rink 265, SportingGoods Superstore 267, Prom Dress Shop 269, Belgian Chocolate Store 271,Pet Store 273, and Model Train Store 278, respectively. Network 11 maybe entirely unaware of the actual location of Aunt Jane's House 229,Linear Park 231, or Pottery Supply Store 233; however, network 11 willknow that Aunt Jane's House 229, Linear Park 231, and Pottery SupplyStore 233 are located within service region 215 which is serviced bywireless communication tower 205. This is true because appliance D1 willnot broadcast raw GPS position data to network 11. Instead, appliance D1will transmit, if permitted, that the user is located in a favoriteplace known as Linear Park 231. On the other hand, network 11 may beaware of the precise GPS data and street address location for PotterySupply Store 233, especially if Pottery Supply Store 233 is a networkaffiliate. When network 11 is aware that the user is located withinservice region 215 and communicating with network 11 via tower 205,communications from network affiliates 24-Hour Gym 263, Ice Skating Rink265, Sporting Goods Superstore 267, Prom Dress Shop 269, BelgianChocolate Store 271, Pet Store 273, and Model Train Store 278 may havetheir advertisements, communications, and/or digital contentpreferentially directed or routed to the user's appliance D1. However,such transmission of digital content will depend upon the user profileand user preferences which have been established through prolongedinteraction between the user and network 11. Accordingly, network 11 mayattach a low probability of communicating a digital message from ModelTrain Store 278 based upon what network 11 has determined about theuser's preferences. However, if network 11 has determined that the useris an animal lover, network 11 may attach a high probability to messageswhich originate from Pet Store 273.

Based upon derived or inferred information about user preferences, orupon selections made by the user, the digital content transmitted to theuser's appliance D1 via tower 205 may be entirely different from thedigital content being simultaneously transmitted to other users locatedwithin the same service region 215. For example, a second user who has ahigh interest in ice skating may receive digital communications from IceSkating Rink 265; a third user interested in fitness may receive digitalcontent from 24-Hour Gym 263; and a fourth user known to be a femalesenior in high school may receive communications from Prom Dress Shop269. Based upon a network assumption that individuals interested infitness may not be interested in high calorie, luxury foods, such asBelgian chocolate, there may be a high probability that the third userwill receive digital content from 24-Hour Gym 263, but a low probabilitythat the third user will receive digital content from Belgian ChocolateStore 271.

Continuing with the example, FIG. 1G (3 of 5) represents tower 207 andservice region 217. As is shown, service regions 215, 219, and 221 arelisted as adjoining service regions. Network 11 “knows” that adjoiningservice regions 215, 219, and 221 are adjacent to service region 217. Asis shown in the table, favorite places 235 and 237 have beencolloquially identified by the user over time as Candy's House 235 andResale Boutique 237. Network 11 may not know the precise GPS and/oraddress location for Candy's House 235. However, network 11 does knowthat Candy's House 235 is located within service region 217 which isserved by wireless communication tower 207. In fact, there may be noreason for network 11 to ever know the exact location of Candy's House235. If Resale Boutique 237 is a network affiliate of network 11, theexact GPS and/or address location for Resale Boutique 237 may be knownby network 11. However, if Resale Boutique 237 is not a networkaffiliate, network 11 may never know the precise GPS data or addresslocation for Resale Boutique 237.

In this example, a plurality of network affiliates 275, 277, 279, 281,283, 285, 287, 289, and 291 reside within located within region 217, andare known by network 11 to be Corn Maze 275, Aquarium 277, Museum 279,I-Max Theatre 281, Movie Theatre 283, Laser Tag Facility 285, PizzaPlace 287, Zoo 289 and Public Library 291. When a user is located withinservice region 217, network 11 may preferentially broadcast digitalmessages from one or more network affiliates 275, 277, 279, 281, 283,285, 287, 289, or 291 based upon the known, derived, or inferredpreferences of the particular user. As stated before, there is alwayssome probability that any particular message will be broadcast to aparticular user; however, the probabilistic modeling system weightsdigital content for reception or transmission of digital content to aparticular user based upon the derived, inferred, or obtainedpreferences of that particular user. Accordingly, if the user is knownto be an animal lover, messages from Zoo 289 have a higher probabilityof being viewed by that user. Messages from Laser Tag Facility 287 orMuseum 279 may have a low probability of either reception ortransmission based upon the then-known user profiles and/or preferences.

Continuing with the example, FIG. 1G (4 of 5) represents tower 209 andservice region 219. As is shown, service regions 217 and 221 are listedas adjoining service regions. Network 11 “knows” that adjoining serviceregions 217 and 221 are adjacent to service region 219. Through previousinteraction with network 11, the user has identified favorite places239, 241, 243, and 245 as Home 239, School 241, Work 243, and Suzy'sHouse 245. Network 11 may or may not know the precise GPS data and/orstreet address for these favorite places. However, network 11 knows thatthese places are located within region 219 and serviced by tower 209.When the user interacts with network 11 from Home 239, appliance D1communicates to network 11 that the user is located at Home 239. Network11 does not know the precise location of Home 239. However, for purposesof billing and perhaps parental contact information, some portions ofnetwork 11 may be aware of the location of Home 239. Similarly, when theuser is located at School 241 and engages with network 11, appliance D1communicates to network 11 that the user is located at School 241. Ifthe user is located at Work 243 and an “on” status has been established,appliance D1 will communicate to network 11 that the user is located atWork 243. Network 11 may never know the exact GPS data or addresslocation for Work 243, but network 11 “knows” when the user isinteracting with network 11 and is located at the unknown GPS locationwhich corresponds in the database to Work 243. Likewise, when the useris located at Suzy's House 245, and interacts with network 11, applianceD1 communicates to network 11 that the user is located at Suzy's House245, even though network 11 may not know where Suzy's House 245 isactually located within region 219. When the user is located withinregion 219, appliance D1 may preferentially direct digital content to betransmitted from network 11 to appliance D1 based upon the derived,inferred, or known user preferences. In the current example, networkaffiliates 293, 295, 297, 299, 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315,and 317 are known by network 11 as Mall #1 293, Mall #2 295, ChineseFood Restaurant 297, K-Mart 299, Target 301, Record Store 303, BattingCages 305, Golf Driving Range 307, Computer Superstore 309, Boy's Club311, Church #1 313, Restaurant #14 315, and Bicycle Shop 317. Inaccordance with the preferred implementation of the present invention,one or more digital messages may be directed to the user when she iswithin region 219 based upon inferred, derived, or known preferences.However, the means for determining whether a particular digital messageis offered for presentation to a particular user at a particular time isa probabilistic modeling system governed by constrained randomvariation, whereby the probabilities of offering digital messages forpresentation vary on a message-by-message basis. In other words, theprobabilistic modeling system does not randomly select from a group ofdigital messages, each having an equal probability of being offered forpresentation. Therefore, it is possible for the user to receive digitalcontent relating to certain subject matter that is entirely outside of,or contrary to, his current user profile. Additionally, certain digitalcontent will be transmitted to appliance D1 based upon locationinformation alone. For example, the fact that the user is within serviceregion 219 may mandate that certain particular digital content betransmitted to and received by appliance D1.

Continuing with the example, FIG. 1G (5 of 5) represents tower 211 andservice region 221. As is shown, service regions 213, 215, 217, and 219are listed as adjoining service regions. Network 11 “knows” thatadjoining service regions 213, 215, 217, and 219 are adjacent to serviceregion 221. As is shown in the table, favorite places 247, 249, and 251have been colloquially identified by the user over time as Uncle Clay'sHouse 247, The Gap 249, and Grandmother's House 251. Network 11 maynever “know” the exact GPS data and/or street address for Uncle Clay'sHouse 247 and Grandmother's House 251. However, network 11 does knowthat these favorite places are located within service region 221 andserviced by tower 211. Additionally, network 11 may know the precise GPSdata and street address for The Gap 249, especially if The Gap 249 is anetwork affiliate. As is shown, a plurality of network affiliates 319,321, 323, 325, 327, and 329 are known by network 11 as Metro Stop 319,Starbucks 321, Bowling Alley 323, Antique Mall 325, Tennis Facility 327,and Car Stereo Superstore 329. In accordance with the preferredimplementation of the present invention, digital content or messagesfrom Metro Stop 319, Starbucks 321, Bowling Alley 323, Antique Mall 325,Tennis Facility 327, Car Stereo Superstore 329, and other networkaffiliates located within service region 221 may be preferentiallytransmitted to the user when the user is located within region 221,based upon the theory that the user is more likely to act upon an offerof goods or services if she is physically located near the networkaffiliate that is making the offer. As stated previously, the user hasprimary control over which digital content is transmitted to applianceD1 by providing network 11 with user profile and preferences informationthrough interaction with network 11. Network 11 determines which digitalcontent to transmit to appliance D1 through manipulation of the derived,inferred, and known preferences provided by the user. In addition,network 11 may transmit certain digital content to the user or toappliance D1 determined in part by the physical location of the user.Thus, although the user is primarily in control of the digital contentthat will likely be transmitted to appliance D1, there is someprobability that the user will receive digital content for materialoutside or contrary to the user's known preferences.

2. According to the present invention, the range of GPS locationsassociated with the generalized location identifiers explained above maybe automatically altered over time in response to any one of thefollowing:

-   -   a. additional express input of users in response to queries        posed by network 11;    -   b. actions of the users, such as renaming a location that is in        conflict with a prior designation or alias; or    -   c. actions taken by the users in changing any of the status        items of their communication appliances.

3. It should be understood that the generalized location identifiersexplained above may simply be provided by network 11 as opposed to beingprovided by the user.

-   -   d. User identity        -   1. User ID        -   2. First name        -   3. Last name        -   4. Demographics            -   a. Age            -   b. Gender            -   c. Home region    -   e. Current balances: Each and every content item is accompanied        by a plurality of revenue/expense data elements representing        values such as revenue/expense of acquisition of the content        item, revenue/expense to deliver the content item over various        channels, revenue/expense for user to view the content item, and        revenue/expense to interact with the content item. By keeping        this information with the content item, rather than just an        identifier like a product code, the system can make decisions        asynchronously and under circumstances when access to a database        may be available.

Bookkeeping operations are performed at every stage of the transport ofthe content item and balances are maintained in these stages. Theseaccount balances are used influence the delivery probabilities of thiscontent item.

Because the plurality of revenue/expense data associated with eachcontent item can represent revenue for the user, merchants can set upcampaigns that reward or debit users for certain behaviors,interactions, or transactions. For example, a content item which has acertain location contextual sensitivity could reward a user if theyapproach a physical storefront. Also, another content item representinga digital coupon upon interaction could debit a users account.

This topic is also discussed below with regard to Network Energy inSection 13.

3.B.3. Objective context—Altered (Virtual locations)

By altering the objective context of the device, the user can influencethe delivery and presentation of content. By changing the locationcontext used by the content delivery and routing mechanisms, the usermay enable a form of virtual travel known as “virtual tourism” in whichthe user may choose to receive digital content as if he or she wereactually located in a different geographic location. This change inapparent location will cause a subsequent change in the contentpresented, showing content with contextual sensitivities appropriate forlocations nearer the altered location.

3.B.3.a. Geographic Location: The known geographical position of thedevice may be altered by intercepting the data from the geographicalpositioning mechanism and either altering the position by a known offsetor by generating or manually entering a new device position. Thisenables the rapid relocation or “jumping” between virtual locations.

3.B.3.b. Named locations: By naming a geographical location, a user isable to later manually specify this named location, thereby changing thelocation context and influencing the delivery and presentation ofcontent relevant to the previously named location. This enables therapid relocation or “jumping” between virtual locations.

3.B.3.c. Grouped Geographic Locations: In accordance with the presentinvention, one or more remote geographical locations may be combinedinto a single “morphed” virtual space. For example, the network spacefor New Orleans, Louisiana may be combined with the network space forDallas, Tex. This morphed space creates a “sister” city metaphor,allowing content relevant to more than one location context to bedelivered simultaneously. The remote geographical locations may eitherbe specified by geographical position or by named locations.

3.B.3.e. Unique Virtual Locations: In accordance with the presentinvention, a user or a group of users may adopt a remote virtual spaceas a common virtual meeting space, and thus engage in communitybuilding. The virtual locations may be used as private spaces which areunknown to those not familiar with them. User generated content may beassociated with this space so that the content becomes relevant when auser enters this virrtual location. See also “STICKY-NOTES COMMUNITYCOMMUNICATION” and “DIGITAL GRAFITTI”.

3.B.4. Subjective context

3.B.4.a. PG-rating filter: As has been stated above, in the preferredembodiment of the present invention, a high value has been placed uponuser privacy. This means that user privacy preferences will predominateover the compilation of other information, including biographic data,cultural data, demographic data, and preferences information, forindividual users. Additionally, user privacy settings will predominateover the goals of network 11 of presenting particular digital content toparticular users. In other words, a user, or more commonly, a user'sparent, may block certain types of digital content from being pulled offof network 11 by appliances 351 and 357, and such block will havepriority over the goal of network 11 to offer for presentationparticular types of digital content to the users of appliances 351 and357. Certainly, the user privacy preferences for the identification ofhis or her current location, in fuzzy terms, predominates over the goalsof network 11 to know the location of the user.

It is important to note that a privacy block is different from a userpreference. In a privacy block, there is a complete and absolute blockon the subject digital content, and appliances 351 and 357 will notdisplay such digital content. In other words, there is a zero percentprobability that the communication will be displayed. On the other hand,a user preference, such as food preferences F1, F2, and F3,entertainment preferences E1, E2, and E3, and relationship preferencesR1, R2, and R3, are determined primarily from each user's interactionwith appliances 351 and 357, which includes the user's responses toinquiries, the user's trust relationship to other users, and/orinferences made by network 11. Such interaction is the primary source ofcontextual user profiles 411 and 417. Privacy blocks deals with blockingor filtering particular digital content, and user preferences deal withthe ability of a user to aggressively seek out certain types of digitalcontent based upon compiled user preferences. The former can beconsidered a digital filter, and the latter can be considered to be adigital accelerator.

3.B.4.b. Current named Place-time.

3.B.4.c. User absorption rate.

3.B.4.d. User thriftiness.

3.B.4.e. Mood.

3.B.5. Preference: For example, how well the user liked the contentbefore, i.e. ratings.

-   -   a) Locally resident ratings

3.C. Rating: In accordance with the present invention, many novel andinteresting applications and network functions are made possible througha data processing implemented profiling of individual user's preferenceswith regard to content items. A user's preference profile to content isrepresented by ratings that are assigned to content items with respectto each user. That is, the rating assigned to content items will varyacross different users. Ratable content includes, but is not limited to,games, movies, music, images, ads, offers, news, events, user-createdmessages, and representations of people. Ratings represent thefavorableness and utility of content items to each user.

Ratings enable the network platform to tune the selection and schedulingof content to each individual user's likes and needs. The meta-dataprovided in the wrapper is used to determine the similarity amongcontent items. The tuning involves preferred selection of content itemsthat are similar to other content items that are favorably rated. SeeSections 3.D, 6.B.2, and 8.A, for further details on the influence ofratings on content selection and scheduling. See Section 8.F for a moredetailed discussion of rating mechanisms and techniques.

3.D. Content Selection: The goal of delivering the right content itemsto the right people under the right circumstances can be implemented byeither a single or dual stage process.

The preferred method provides enhanced user privacy and systemscalability by implementation in two asynchronous stages. The firststage occurs on the server at the network operation center and performsgross content item candidate selection, while the final presentationdecisions are made on the client. A feedback loop from the client to theserver returns content item rating information.

3.D.1. Gross—Big scheduler (content selection engine): The goal of thisstage is to select candidate payloads for delivery to the client. Ascontent ages, expires, or is poorly rated, and as new content isintroduced into the network as a whole, or the user's home locationchanges the client must be replenished with new content items. Suchpayloads are often delivered to the client when the device is cradled orduring off-peak communication times.

This stage is running asynchronously, as server capacity allows, alwayskeeping a list of candidate content for a specific client. When theclient is able to accept new content, a the list of content itemscurrently residing on the client, their byte sizes, their prioritizedpurge-ability, and their content-type blend, are examined and an optimalsubset of the candidate list is transferred to the client. The candidateselection process is probabilistic, blending new content varieties withknown preferences, and is based on historic ratings of content of thisuser and those users he selected as having similar tastes. This historiccontent's wrappers and ratings include information about contentcategories, features, and time and space relevancies.

3.D.2. Fine—Little scheduler: This stage operates on the payload ofcandidate content held within the client, refining precisely if or whenthe content is presented based on the user's context. If the content ispresented and explicit or implicit user rating of the content can beacquired, this information is delivered back to the first stage.

The mechanism is again probabilistic, using the interaction of thecontent's contextual sensitivities with the current context to setprobabilities of presentation.

3.E. Awareness: Awareness encompasses a wide range of different types ofinformation, but in general, awareness is defined as these types ofinformation that are delivered and presented based on context, as isdefined in section 1. This includes, but is not limited to friends,events, processes, news, and merchant offers and many of the types ofinformation listed in section 2 that provide value to users.

There are four general categories of awareness that the network and userinterface are capable of supporting.

1. Awareness of what is close to and happening around a user at thepresent time. For example, awareness of the nearest automated tellermachine or coffee shop, and awareness of a special offer at a favoritenearby restaurant delivered to the user near lunchtime.

2. Awareness of things that will happen or become effective at varioustimes in the future. For example, awareness of an upcoming concert orsoon to be released movie, awareness of invitations to parties ormeetings, and awareness of new products.

3. Awareness about things that are of interest and that are happeningnow, but that are not near the user or directly observable. For example,awareness of the score of a baseball game, awareness of stock quotes,awareness of a package delivery, and awareness of the location offriends.

4. Awareness of state and status of user activities and the system. Forexample, awareness of received messages, awareness of an incoming call,awareness of pending work such as an unfinished instant message,awareness of the status of a sent message, awareness of currentlocation, awareness of remaining battery capacity and awareness ofnetwork connection status.

Awareness may be presented at the user's focus, it may reside in theuser's peripheral vision, and/or it may be interruptive and requireimmediate user attention. The user interface provides constructs forpresentation of awareness items as appropriate. Examples of awarenesspresented in the user's focus include, but are not limited to newsarticles and the reading of an instant message that was recentlyreceived. Examples of awareness presented in the user's peripheralvision include, but are not limited to other user locations, the timeand the network connection status. Examples of interruptive awarenessinclude, but are not limited to a low battery, a lost networkconnection, an incoming instant message or an incoming phone call.

-   -   1. Specific items        -   a) In arrangements        -   b) User chosen            -   (1) Other user's location    -   2. Situational awareness—Stream:        -   a) Focal point of relevant new information        -   b) Heterogeneous            -   (1) Messages            -   (2) Breaking news            -   (3) Entertainment            -   (4) Commercial opportunities            -   (5) Warnings            -   (6) Device alerts        -   c) System-initiated (scheduler)        -   d) Continuous        -   e) Sequential        -   f) Contextually relevant        -   h) Ratable        -   i) Scheduled from local and server data stores

3.F. Arrangements

3.F.1. Organizational tool: An arrangement is a user interface constructfor organizing content items for presentation to a user. An arrangementis an assemblage of zero or more content items that are collected, thenspatially and/or temporally organized for presentation.

3.F.2. Content Item Membership is Non-exclusive: Arrangements offerusers great flexibility in constructing an awareness environment thatmeets their individual needs. Users can define any number ofarrangements and individual content items may be included of any numberof arrangements.

3.F.3. Types of Arrangements: Users occasionally need to view homogenouscollections of content objects formed on the basis of inherent categorymembership (e.g., an arrangement of all people). Traditionalbusiness-related functionality found on PDA's and desktops is designedaround access to homogenous sets of information (e.g., contact lists oraddress books, message lists, to do lists, event lists or calendars).These are very useful for reference, but they do not satisfy the needpeople have to be aware of various kinds of information, especially whenthe set of information itself needs to adapt in response to changes inthe present context. At any given time users have the need to bringtogether collections of content that are diverse. Using arrangementsmanages to satisfy both with the same interaction model.

-   -   a. Arbitrary: Arbitrarily defined arrangements contain        heterogeneous collections of content objects and other        arrangements that constitute the information the user wants to        be aware of or the activities the user wants to engage in at any        given time. They are not collected based on context or a rule,        but rather by the explicit inclusion of the content items in the        arrangement by the user. The user may choose to use content        associations to draw in additional content items that have        associations with those explicitly included by the user.    -   b. Rule-based: Rule based arrangements are used to construct        homogenous sets or groups of content items such as a calendar, a        contact list or a phone list. In the case of a calendar, content        items with time sensitivities that match that specified by the        chosen calendar day, week, month or year would be gathered into        an arrangement. In the case of a contact list, those content        items typed as “people” would be gathered into an arrangement.        Temporary arrangements may also be formed, such as the results        of a search operation, pending items or an inbox. One example is        an inbox for incoming messages where unread messages are grouped        until the user takes action on them.

3.F.4. Representation in other arrangements: The ability to nestarrangements within other arrangements creates association links betweenthem giving much flexibility to users in setting up their ownnavigational paths. In this way, the set of arrangements taken togetherforms a heterarchical organization of content objects. In contrast tohierarchies, heterarchies are able to be reflexive so that they can bereformulated in response to immediate and changing needs. They are alsomore easily able to accommodate organizations of heterogeneous objects.

3.F.5. Contextually triggered: Arrangements are treated like any othercontent item, so their presentation may be controlled in a similarfashion. They may be chosen for presentation based on time, location orany specified contexts.

3.G. Communications: In accordance with the preferred implementation ofthe present invention, a plurality of alternative communication modesare supported within network 11. Some communication modes can beconsidered to be “cold” forms of communication, while other modes ofcommunication may be considered to be “hot” modes of communication. Acold mode of communication has a high degree of delay or latencyassociated therewith. Conversely, a hot mode of communication is onewhich has a low degree of delay or latency associated therewith.Generally, hot modes of communication may be conducted in real time.Preferably, the alternative communication modes include an e-mail mode,an instant messaging (IM) mode, a chat mode, a voice mode, and a videophone mode. The following is a description of the operation of thepresent invention to enable these various modes of communication as wellas the escalation or de-escalation of modes of communication.

3.G.1. E-Mail: The e-mail mode of communication is one in which textmessages are keyed in by one user and communicated in a text form overnetwork 11 to a designated recipient. The e-mail mode of communicationon network 11 utilizes conventional e-mail formats and protocols. E-mailmessages may be accumulated and saved in an electronic in-box, wherebythe e-mail messages may be read at the leisure and convenience of therecipient.

3.G.2. Instant messaging: The instant messaging mode of communicationsone in which text messages are keyed in by one user and deliveredimmediately to the recipient user if the recipient user's appliance isin an IM receipt mode. IM messages received while in the IM receipt modesubordinate other content on the recipient's appliance. Thus, IM isconsidered “hotter” than e-mail. It is desirable that the IM mode ofcommunication on network 11 utilizes conventional IM formats andprotocols.

3.G.3. Chat: The chat mode of communication is one in which a pluralityof communicants have initiated a chat session in which text, graphical,or voice synthesized messages are exchanged substantially concurrentlyin a dialog fashion. Because the users in a chat session haveaffirmatively established a desire to communicate with each other, chatis “hotter” than e-mail and IM. It is desired that the chat mode ofcommunication on network 11 utilizes conventional chat formats andprotocols.

3.G.4. Voice: The voice mode of communication is similar to a telephoneconversation. The voice mode of communication is possible when a mobilephone is embedded in appliance 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, or 361. Becausethe voice mode of communication is performed concurrently between usersin real time, it is “hotter” than e-mail, IM or chat. It is desired thatthe voice mode of communication on network 11 utilizes conventionalcellular or digital phone formats and protocols.

3.G.5. Video: The video-voice mode of communication is similar to avideo phone conversation. The video-voice mode of communication ispossible when a mobile video phone is embedded in appliance 351, 353,355, 357, 359, or 361. Because the video-voice mode of communication isperformed concurrently between users in real time, and involves currentvideo, it is “hotter” than e-mail, IM, chat, or voice. It is desiredthat the video-voice mode of communication on network 11 utilizesconventional cellular or digital video phone formats and protocols.

3.G.6. Escalation of Communication Modes: In accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible forcommunicants to move between modes of communication from a relatively“cold” mode of communication, such as IM, to a relatively “hot” mode ofcommunication, such as a voice. If during an IM session, thecommunicants decide to “switch up” to the voice communication mode, theycan simply input an appropriate command to their respective appliances351, 353, 355, 357, 359, or 361, and network 11 will establish the voiceconnection between the users.

3.G.7. De-escalation of Communication Modes: Conversely, it is possiblefor communicants to de-escalate modes of communication from a relatively“hot” to a relatively “cold” mode of communication. This could be donein an effort to reduce airtime or to conserve network energy. Forexample, if two users are communicating to each other in the voice modeand decide to “switch down” to a chat mode which may burn less networkenergy, the users simply input an appropriate command to theirrespective appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, or 361, and network 11will disconnect the voice connection between the users and establish achat session between the users.

3.H. Searches: Content items that perform find and search functions areprovided so that the user may search for new content items located onthe network and locate existing content items already stored on theirdevice.

Search content items may perform specific searches and/or contextualsearches. Specific searches include, but are not limited to findingcertain people on the network or a particular merchant. Contextualsearches include, but are not limited to, finding content items based onlocation, time and preferences.

A single find or search utility is extremely inadequate because it ismuch too difficult to provide a single, comprehensive search utilitywith all of the necessary options to find any possible type ofinformation. For this reason, separate content items for findingdifferent types of information are provided for. Users are accustomed tousing different search mechanisms for different types of information.For example, when looking for directions, a user does not simply use ageneric search mechanism and type in the keyword directions. The usergoes to a mapping and directions site or page that has various optionsthat make the process of getting exact directions from one location toanother much easier.

Providing different content items for find and search operationsprovides the possibility for merchants to develop custom, brandedcontent items that can be used to find a particular merchants locationsor products. For example, a coffee shop could provide an awarenesscontent item that simply provides a constant indication of the nearestcoffee shop location. The awareness item is a search item, but the itemdoes the search automatically based on the user's location.

3.I. Relationship network: Reference will now be made to FIG. 1O in thedrawings. To a great degree, the present invention is building a socialnetwork that facilitates the growth of relationships and enables socialactivities via those relationships. This social aspect of the networksystem is empowered by the relationship network.

OVERVIEW: The relationship network is comprised of a set of nodes andedges, i.e., links between nodes. Nodes represent various entities thatbelong to the network. Edges represent the relationships among entitiesand are directionally valued.

Nodes:

NODE TYPES: All nodes are defined by a common way to facilitate codereuse and simplicity. Nodes for different types of entities aredifferentiated by the way parameters in the common node structure areset. The generic types of entities that are represented by nodes includethe following.

a. Individual device holders.

b. Merchants.

c. Parents.

d. Regions (e.g., D/FW).

e. Organizations (e.g., Ski club, church group, Boy Scouts, WildernessSociety).

f. Groups (these are created by one or more individual device-holders toact as places for sharing stuff, or sending group messages).

g. Authorities (e.g., police, fire department).

h. Service Provider.

NODE ATTRIBUTES: Nodes have the following attributes:

a. Node ID: Uniquely identifies the node to the network. All nodes canbe found by using their ID.

b. Node type: Type specifications are used to derive the functional andbehavioral characteristics of a node.

c. Place: A physical place to which the node is associated. Nodes forsome entities may be strongly associated with a place, i.e., Starplex,church group, while others may have no place association at all, i.e.,Brittany Spears fan club.

d. Time: Some nodes may be strongly associated with particular dates ortimes, i.e., a node for a group that gets together every week to watchfootball games; while others may not have time associations at all,i.e., all night pizza delivery service, the fire department.

e. Network Energy Level (Balance): All nodes have an economy associatedwith their existence. This economy's mechanism is network energy. Nodescan get network energy and use network energy.

f. Nodes can store content: Nodes can have a content store. Some of thecontent may be publicly available throughout the network, while some maybe private and need authorization and permissions to access.

g. Permissions: these specify appropriate authorizations for other nodesto send content to, store content in, or access content from the node.

h. Set of link ratings: This is the set of ratings for links thatoriginate from the node to other nodes.

i. Set of links: This is the set of links that originate from the node.

j. Content association ratings: The same set of associations that areused to characterize content are used to characterize nodes.

k. Node movie: Each node needs a representation of itself so that whenit is visited by another node it can be “viewed.”

NODE OPERATIONS: Nodes can perform the following operations:

a. Acquire network energy.

b. Receive messages.

c. Receive a request to authorize interaction with another node.

d. Receive generic content.

e. Receive parental controls from a parent node.

f. Send updates to another node.

g. Authorize interaction with another node and send notice.

h. Send messages to another node.

i. Send generic content to another node.

Links:

RATINGS: Links represent node-to-node relationships. Some relationshipsare established by default and are not rated, i.e., links from all nodesto the service provider node or nodes. The nodes themselves, or actuallythe entities that the nodes represent, establish additional node-to-nodelinks in the network. The node created links can be rated in two ways:(1) degree-of-trust; and (2) degree-of-similarity.

The degree-of-trust rating is a directed rating from the originationnode to the linked node and is used to compute relationships on thebasis of referential trust. Referential trust can be established betweentwo nodes that are not directly linked when (a) each node trusts, or hasa trust link to, a third, intermediate node; and (b) that intermediatenode trusts each of the nodes.

The degree-of-similarity rating is also a directed rating from theorigination node to the linked node. Similarity ratings are used toexpand the pool of content delivered to a given device holder in termsof either breadth or depth.

Content breadth can be expanded by an individual-to-individual link.Basically, the similarity link establishes a way for content liked byone individual to affect the content seen by another individual. In thisway, an individual can expand the set of content they see by using thecombined set of content viewed and rated by other individuals. Thedegree of the rating influences the magnitude of the effect. Theexplicit rating provided by the linked node is used as the “preliminaryspecific rating” of preference for that content on the scheduler of thedevice whose associated node had created the link.

Content depth can be expanded by an individual-to-merchant, orto-organization, link. In this example, the link is creating a way toreceive a greater quantity of content from a single source. The degreeof the rating influences the magnitude of the content.

CONTENT ROUTING AND SCHEDULING: A major function of the relationshipnetwork is to provide an efficient means of routing content among nodes,and in so doing, providing the right pool of content to each nodeconnected to a device holder. The pool of content from which eachdevice's scheduler is replenished will be somewhat different for eachdevice holder and will be a subset of the total set of content in thenetwork. Note that compiling this pool and selecting from it in aprobabilistic manner is generally the functionality performed by whathas been referred to as the “big scheduler.”

The device-dependent content pools will consist of content-items that,for the most part, are expected to be highly preferred by each deviceholder. The pool will not contain certain types of content that isinappropriate. This includes:

a. Content for the wrong geographic location.

b. Content that falls outside parental authorizations (e.g., parentalcontrols via PG ratings).

c. Content that has prerequisites which are not in the pool.

d. Content that is already on the device.

Basically, the pool will consist of content that the device holder isexpected to like, but will also contain some content that is not similarto other content the device holder has seen, i.e., unfamiliar content,and some content that the device holder had previously indicated asundesirable. The purpose for including the later types of content is toprovide for the possibility that the device holder tastes have evolved.

The device-dependent content pool for an individual device holder willbe compiled using some form of aggregated/group data based on the groupnodes to which each device holder belongs, or is linked. This groupapproach avoids the computational intensity that would be needed toselect each device's content from a general pool of all content in thenetwork.

3.J. Economy of content delivery: See iii.B.2.E above.

3.K. Abstraction of location: In accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, location-aware wirelesscommunication appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 and network 11collaborate over time in order to generate a novel profile of the userassociated with a particular location-aware wireless communicationappliance D1. The most basic location-related information is theidentification of places which the user frequents. This is depicted insimplified form in the view of FIG. 1C. Location-aware wirelesscommunication appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 interact withcorresponding users and network 11 in order to determine the identity ofdifferent “places” which are frequented by the individual users. Aparticular user is associated with a particular location-aware wirelesscommunication appliance D1. Accordingly, the location-aware wirelesscommunication appliance D1 “maps” or correlates latitude and longitudedata to particular places. For example, the latitude and longitude dataX1, Y1 may be determined over time to correspond to the “school”attended by the owner of that particular location-aware wirelesscommunication appliance D1. Additionally, the latitude and longitudedata corresponding to X2, Y2 may be determined over time to correspondwith the “work place” associated with that particular user.Additionally, the latitude and longitude data X3, Y3 may be determinedto correspond to the “home” of that particular user. Additionally, theacquired latitude and longitude data X4, Y4 may be determined over timeto correspond to a location known as “the mall” which is frequented bythe user. Additionally, the latitude and longitude data X5, Y5 may bedetermined over time to correspond to a “restaurant” frequented by thatparticular user.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,during normal non-emergency operation, location-aware wirelesscommunication appliance D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 will rarely or nevercommunicate latitude and longitude data to network 11. Instead, aslocation-aware wireless communication appliance D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5identifies and catalogs the various places frequented by the user, it isthe colloquial identification of those places which is communicated tonetwork 11. Accordingly, the network may know that a user is at “home,”at “work,” at “school,” at the “mall,” or at a particular “restaurant,”but will not know the actual or precise location of those particularplaces. This is necessary in order to protect the privacy of the user.In the first commercial implementation of the present invention, theusers will likely be adolescents, so there are additional safety andsecurity reasons for rarely or never transmitting precise GPS data fromlocation-aware wireless communication appliance D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5to network 11. However, as will be explained below, there is someability to “track” location in a general manner by knowing whichparticular tower or towers a particular location-aware wirelesscommunication appliance D1, D2, D3, D4, or D5 is communicating with.

FIG. 1D is a simplified representation of user profiling for a portionof one exemplary day. As is shown, the graph of FIG. 1D includes anx-axis which is representative of a time period from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. and a y-axis which is a histographic representation of fivepreviously-identified locations L1 through L5. As is shown, for the userassociated with a particular location-aware wireless appliance, such asappliance D1, the day starts at location L1 which is known by applianceD1 and network 11 as “home.” The user is located at home untilapproximately 8:00 a.m. At approximately 8:00 a.m., the user beginstravel from location L1 to location L2. In this example, location GR2 isknown by appliance D1 and network 11 as the “school” for this particularuser. Between approximately 9:00 a.m. and approximately 12:00 p.m., theuser is located at the “school.” At approximately 12:00 p.m., the usertravels from location L2 to location L3. Location L3 is known byappliance D1 and network 11 as the “mall” for this particular user. Atapproximately 1:00 p.m. the user travels from location L3 to locationL2. This corresponds to a return by the user to the “school” from the“mall.” At approximately 4:00 p.m., the user's location changes again.This time, the user travels from location L2 to location L4. Location L4is known by appliance D1 and network 11 to be the “work place” for thisparticular user. The user remains at location L4 until approximately7:00 p.m. At approximately 7:00 p.m., the user travels from location L4to location L2. This corresponds to a return by the user to the “school”from the “work place.” Then at approximately 8:00 p.m., the user travelsfrom location L2 to location L1. This corresponds to a return by theuser to “home” from “school.”

In this manner, appliance D1 and network 11 may profile a particularportion of a day for the user. When this is done over relatively longintervals of time, an accurate location and time profile may beestablished for this particular user. For example, if location and timeare monitored in this manner over an interval of several months, veryreliable patterns will be detected, including patterns within particulardays, as well as, patterns within longer time intervals, such as weeksor months. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, these location and time profiles may be stored in memorywithin appliance D1 and/or network 11 and assigned various confidenceintervals which represent a quantitative or qualitative conclusionrelating to the reliability of such a profile. Once a time and locationprofile is established for a particular user, network 11 may moreintelligently manage digital messages, also referred to herein as“digital content,” communicated by network 11 and/or affiliatedentities, such as merchants, to ensure that messages or content aredirected to the user at appropriate times, places, and manners. Forexample, the type of message that network 11 may deem appropriate for auser that is actually or likely located at the “mall” differssubstantially from the types of messages that are appropriate for theuser when he or she is at “school” or “home.” As will be discussed insignificantly greater detail below, in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the user has a great deal ofcontrol over the content of messages, information, or digital contentcommunicated to his or her location-aware wireless communicationappliance D1. The establishment of profiles based upon time and locationis one fundamental element of providing intelligent, effective, andpredominately user-controlled messaging.

-   -   1. Named places    -   2. Named times    -   3. Named events (place/times)

3.L. Authorization: This is permission of awareness things and ofcontent

4. Create

4.A. Macromedia Flash

-   -   1. File format    -   2. Rendering engine    -   3. Authoring Tools    -   4. Scripting language

5. Wrapping Content

All content items have wrappers. The wrappers allow content to bedescribed, manipulated, used in computations, and referenced throughoutthe network without the presentation and data parts of the content itemhaving to be moved or accessed.

Content can be wrapped either manually or automatically. Tools have beencreated to assist content creators in manually wrapping content and forautomatically wrapping content that is text based.

5.A. Prototypical wrappers: Prototypical wrappers form a starting pointto assist content creators in specifying wrappers.

5.A.1 Inheritance from prototypical wrappers: Prototypical wrappers canbe defined in two ways. In one way the prototype describes a high-levelframework for a class of content items. Using this as a starting point,content creators would fill in fields that specify the instance of theclass. In the second way the prototype describes in detail astereotypical instance of a class. Using this as a starting point,content creators would modify the fields already qualified by thestereotype.

5.A.2 Tagging: Detail of wrapper tags from above. Wrappers are specifiedin a tagged format that does not need all the tags.

Thus, the wrapper can be deconstructed/reconstructed to reducebandwidth.

5.B. Wrapper Tool: Assists user by allowing associations to be filled byspecifying combinations of other wrappers. Also assists users byautomatically presenting the most similar content items to the one beingdefined, thus providing an internal validity check.

5.C. Automatic wrapping: Uses a set of indicator words and phrases thatmap to associations.

Involves a text search and match process in which the indicator wordsand phrases are match to the text in the content and through a scoringprocess based on the matches automatically assign values toassociations.

5.D. Registration: Content registration system: Process of when a pieceof content comes in, it gets compared with every other piece of contentto get its distance in all dimensions from every other piece of content.Because pre-calculation is done during registration, it does not have tobe done during selection.

6. Routing Mechanisms

Routing is the process of efficiently and intelligently directingcontent items from their point of origin in the network to theirappropriate destinations. Routing processes will identify where contentis to be delivered. Separate processes discussed in Section 7 handle theactual delivery of a content item from the server to the clientdestination. Content items are routed in two basic ways each discussedbelow.

6.A. Destination-specific routing: This method of routing is used todirect a content item to one or more specifically identifieddestinations. The destinations are specified in the content item'swrapper in the Node destination field either by the content creator orby an automated process.

Generally, content items that are destination-specific include:

-   -   1. Instant messages;    -   2. User requests for specific content items;    -   3. Search results;    -   4. Content items sent in the process of performing a high-level        activity or transaction (a confirmation);    -   5. Dynamic awareness data updates obtained through        subscriptions;    -   6. Content items accessed through browsing; and    -   7. Payload fills.

6.B. Self-routed.

6.B.1. Simultaneous distribution of unique experiences: While it ispossible for each individual user within a particular service region toreceive completely different digital content in his location-awarewireless communication appliance, there will be a great deal of overlap,such that certain groups of users within a certain service region willhave common digital content displayed or played on their location-awarewireless communication appliances. Essentially, the overlap in digitalcontent between users or groups of users represents a form of sharedvirtual environments. This will be described in high-level overview withrespect to FIGS. 1H and 1I. FIG. 1H depicts a plurality oflocation-aware wireless communication appliances 351, 353, 355, 357,359, and 361 in highly simplified form. Each appliance 351, 353, 355,357, 359, and 361 includes an always-visible display 352, 354, 356, 358,360, and 362, respectively, for displaying digital content. For example,appliance 351 is displaying digital content identified symbolically byDigital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and G; appliance 353 is displayingDigital Content D, E and G; appliance 355 is displaying Digital ContentA, C, D and G; appliance 357 is displaying Digital Content C, D, E, Fand G; appliance 359 is displaying Digital Content B, D, and G; andappliance 361 is displaying Digital Content A, B, C, D, F, and G.

In FIG. 1H, Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and G may consist of textmessages, graphical elements, changing text elements, and/or changingaudio-visual elements. Displays 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, and 362 may besegmented or proportioned to allow a plurality of unrelated digitalcontent elements to be displayed or executed simultaneously. In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, a rendering engine, suchas Flash, will be utilized as a primary user interface, so that theDigital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and G may represent various digital“movies” which are graphics and/or textual elements which change withrespect to time, and which are simultaneously displayed or displayed inan overlapping or complementary manner. As will be explained in moredetail, whether particular Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, or G isdisplayed on appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, or 361 is notcoincidental. Further, whether Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and/orG is displayed is not merely dependent upon the user's current longitudeand latitude.

FIG. 1I is a tabular representation of how digital content is aggregatedand assembled for further analysis. A table 363 includes a DigitalContent ID column 365 which contains a plurality of digital contentmessages: Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G. For each DigitalContent A, B, C, D, E, F and G, nine columns of exemplary data areillustrated: a playable digital content column 367, a source column 369,a type column 371, a subject column 373, an energy required to playcolumn 375, an energy earned by playing column 377, a preferred locationcolumn 379, a preferred time column 381, and a period column 383. Thedata from columns 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, and 383 foreach Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G combine to define a specificelectronic “wrapper” for each Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G.Thus, Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G have wrappers 385, 387,389, 391, 393, 395, and 397, respectively, whereby each column 367, 369,371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, and 383 represents a separate wrapperelement.

Playable digital content column 367 contains the actual playable digitalcontent, for example, a movie, an executable file, a graphical icon, atext message, or the like. Source column 369 identifies the source ofeach Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Type column 371 contains ageneral description of each Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G, orof the format of each Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G. EachDigital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G may be analyzed and “coded” ascorresponding to particular types of content. For example, DigitalContent A relates to content subjects X and Y, Digital Content B relatesto weather, Digital Content E relates to content subjects L and M, andDigital Content F relates to sporting events. According to the presentinvention, the user may be required to “burn” selected amounts ofnetwork energy to view, play, or execute certain types of digitalcontent. Energy required to play column 375 contains the amount ofnetwork energy, in network energy units, required to view, play, orexecute each Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G. On the other hand,the user may be able to “earn” selected amounts of network energy byviewing, playing, or executing certain types of digital content. Energyearned for playing column 377 contains the amount of network energy, innetwork energy units, which may be earned for viewing, playing, orexecuting each Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F and G. In simplifiedterms, if the user does not have enough network energy to view or playcertain digital content, he must perform an activity on network 11 forwhich he may earn network energy.

It should be understood that different digital content elements may havedifferent wrapper elements, or that certain wrapper elements may not beapplicable to certain digital content messages. For example, DigitalContent A, C, D, and G do not contain data for the “Subject” wrapperelement, subject column 373. Although only nine exemplary wrapperelements have been depicted in FIG. 1I, it will be appreciated thatparticular digital content messages may have hundreds of wrapperelements, including wrapper elements that qualify or quantify certainother wrapper elements.

Digital content may be “offered for presentation” to the user accordingto a variety of methods, including: immediate full display, incrementaldisplay with time, incremental display with location, and userinitiated. A digital content element designated as “immediate fulldisplay” is displayed immediately in its fullest possible displayformat, regardless of time, user location, or user intervention. Adigital content element designated as “incremental display with time”grows larger, becomes more prominent, or is offered at increasedfrequency as the preferred display time approaches. A digital contentmessage designated as “incremental display with location” grows larger,becomes more prominent, or is offered at increased frequency as the userphysically approaches the preferred display location. A digital contentmessage designated as “user initiated” only grows larger, becomes moreprominent, or is offered when the user initiates a request or search forsuch digital content. This “bubbling up” of digital content is discussedin more detail in conjunction with the description of the preferredgraphical user interface.

As is shown, Digital Content A is an advertisement in the form of amovie from Merchant #12 for which a user may earn five units of networkenergy simply by playing the movie. Merchant #12 has designated thatDigital Content A should preferably be offered for presentation to theuser after school hours. The offer of presentation of Digital Content Ato the user will grow larger or more prominent as the user incrementallyapproaches a preferred longitude and latitude LATLONG1, such as Merchant#12's retail outlet. Digital Content B is a severe weather warning inthe form of text and an alarm from a government entity. Digital ContentB is displayed immediately at various times and changing physicallocations, such as the locations of users in the path of a severe storm.Digital Content C is an e-mail message from a Friend #1 is available forpresentation to the user for a period of seven days, such period beingestablished through various means, including designation by the sender,the user's responses to inquiries, the user's trust relationship toFriend #1, and/or inferences made by network 11. The receiving user will“burn” two units of network energy should he choose to read Friend #1'se-mail message.

Digital Content D is a request for chat from Acquaintance #3. DigitalContent D is displayed as a graphical icon and will be available forresponse by the user for a period of three hours. Digital Content C andD have no preferred location. Digital Content E is a survey in anexecutable spreadsheet format from Merchant #2. As is depicted, the usercan earn a relatively large amount of network energy, twenty units, bycompleting the survey. It will “cost” the user five units of networkenergy to respond to Digital Content D. Digital Content E will beoffered for presentation to the user during the specific twenty-five dayperiod between December 1st and December 25th. Digital Content F is atextual announcement from the user's school pertaining to a particularsporting event, such as a football game. As is depicted, Digital ContentF will be incrementally displayed between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. overa seven day period. Thus, the offer for presentation of Digital ContentF will grow larger, become more prominent, or be offered at increasedfrequency as the time of the football game approaches. Digital Content Gis a schedule in a calendar file format from the user's Soccer Team.Digital Content G will only be offered for presentation if initiated bythe user by a query of search. Of course, if the user does initiate theoffer for presentation of Digital Content G, he will burn three units ofnetwork energy.

In practice, network 11 may manage millions of digital content elementsin hundreds or thousands of categories, each digital content elementpossibly having hundreds of wrapper elements. Network 11 may requirethat members, including users and network affiliates, enter or selectcategory designations or key words to allow sorting and analysis of thecontent subjects. Alternatively, a software agent could be establishedwhich parses the digital content or the associated wrappers and infersthe content subject. Although use of such a software agent would lessenthe burden on network affiliates and users, some misidentification ormiscategorization of the digital content may result. As will bediscussed below, in accordance with the present invention, privacy,preference, and content subject is utilized to filter, accelerate,prioritize, or block particular digital content elements. Additionally,as has been discussed previously, the user's current locationinformation may also be an important basis for determining whethercertain digital content should be offered for presentation.

Wrappers 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, and 397 for Digital Content A, B,C, D, E, F, and G, respectively, are illustrated in high-level,simplified representations in FIG. 1J in the drawings. In certaininstances it may be necessary to separate the playable digital contentfrom the other wrapper elements to conserve cache memory 392 and 396, orwhen wireless communication bandwidth is insufficient. Such separationis particularly useful when the playable digital content requires alarge amount of storage, or when the scheduler determines that theprobability of the playable digital content being displayed for aparticular user is low. For instance, the playable digital content forDigital Content G is a soccer schedule in a calendar file format. Shouldthe soccer schedule require a large amount of cache memory, it ispossible for the actual playable digital content to reside on networkserver 109. In such instances, a wrapper link 398 is provided withinwrapper 397 to point to or provide an electronic link to the soccerschedule file. Should the user decide to retrieve or display the soccerschedule, wrapper link 398 would cause the soccer schedule file to beretrieved or played. Wrapper link 398 is a method of conserving cachememory. It should be understood that, aside from pointing to digitalcontent, such wrapper links can be used for a wide variety of purposes,such as pointing to other data or memory locations, and as place holdersfor future data.

Referring now to FIG. 1K in the drawings, a further explanation of theaggregation and assembly of digital content is illustrated. Appliances351, 357, and 359 include cache memory 392, 394, and 396, respectively.Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are periodically transmitted andtemporarily stored in cache memory 392, 394, and 396 prior topresentation to the user. FIG. 1K also includes a depiction of theimplementation of privacy blocks on digital content. Such privacy blocksare set by the user or the user's parents to ensure that certaincategories or types of digital content are never offered forpresentation to the user, regardless of the user's preferences, wrapperelements, or the scheduling model. In all instances, Digital Content A,B, C, D, E, F, and G, represented by reference numeral 401, are storedon network server 109. In the preferred method, an electronic privacyblock 402 resides, in its entirety, on appliance 351. In the preferredmethod, all Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and G is transmitted atthe preferred off-peak time to appliance 351, but certain digitalcontent is permanently blocked from ever being offered for presentationto the user. The block occurs entirely on appliance 351. In an alternatemethod, a privacy block has a first part 404a residing on network server109, and a second part 404 b residing on appliance 357. In thisembodiment, Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, or G may be blocked fromever being transmitted to appliance 357 by first part 404 a, or DigitalContent A, B, C, D, E, F, or G may be transmitted to appliance 357 atthe preferred off-peak time, but blocked from being offered forpresentation to the user by second part 404 b. In another alternatemethod, a privacy block 406 resides, in its entirety, on network server109. In this method, Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and G istransmitted at the preferred off-peak time to appliance 359 only if itis not blocked by privacy block 406.

FIG. 1L in the drawings is a tabular representation of a novelcontextual user profile according to the present invention. A table 407has a user/appliance column 409 which lists each appliance 351, 353,355, 357, 359, and 361. Contextual user profiles 411, 413, 415, 417,419, and 421 are represented by the rows of table 407, and correspond toappliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, and 361, respectively. Contextualuser profiles 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, and 421 go far beyond what maytraditionally be thought of as a “profile.” As will be explained in moredetail below, contextual user profiles 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, and 421reside on appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, and 361.

Each user profile 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, and 421 is comprised ofcertain “static” data components 423, represented by columns 423 a, 423b, and 423 c, and certain “dynamic” data components 425, represented bycolumns 425 a, 425 b, 425 c, 425 d, 425 e, 425 f, 425 g, and 425 h.Dynamic data components 425 may be separated into at least twocategories: “hard” dynamic data components 427 a, represented by columns425 a, 425 b, 425 c, and 425 d, and “soft” dynamic data components 427b, represented by columns 425 e, 425 f, 425 g, and 425 h. Hard dynamicdata is generally objective and concrete, while soft dynamic data isgenerally subjective and fungible. It should be understood thatcontextual user profiles 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, and 421 may consist ofmany other static and dynamic data components. It is the combination ofstatic data components 423 and dynamic data components 425 that createthe unique “contextual” user profile.

Static data components 423 consist of data that remains relativelyconstant, such as the accumulated biographic data of column 423 a,demographic data of column 423 b, and cultural data of column 432 c. Onthe other hand, both hard dynamic data components 427 a and soft dynamicdata components 427 b consist of data that may change frequently, suchas the date and time, the user's current location, network-inferreddata, and the user's preferences data, as compiled through theinquisitiveness functions and responses to queries. Examples of harddynamic data include the user's actual longitude and latitude data ofcolumn 425 a, the time of day of column 425 b, the date of column 425 c,and the user's available network energy 425 d. Examples of soft dynamicdata include the user's food preferences of column 425 e, the user'sentertainment preferences of column 425 f, the user's relationshippreferences of column 425 g, in some instances the user's privacyblocks, and other such data derived from the habit-modeling functionsand inquisitiveness functions of network 11. In other words, userprofiles are constantly changing and adapting to reflect the user'scurrent state of being, in terms of location, time, and personal likesand dislikes.

The broad diversity of contextual user profiles 411, 413, 415, 417, 419,and 421 is depicted in table 407. The user of appliance 351 has thefollowing exemplary static data components: biographical data B1,demographic data DM3, and cultural data C1; the following exemplary harddynamic data components: current latitude and longitude LATLONG1,current time of 4:00 p.m., current date of December 5th, and availablenetwork energy of 130 units; and the following soft dynamic datacomponents: food preferences data F1, entertainment preferences data E1,relationship preferences data R3, and privacy blocks P1. In a similarfashion, the user of appliance 353 has the following exemplary staticdata components: biographical data B3, demographic data DM2, andcultural data C2; the following exemplary hard dynamic data components:current latitude and longitude LATLONG2, current time of 4:30 p.m.,current date of December 5th, and available network energy of 43 units;and the following soft dynamic data components: food preferences dataF2, entertainment preferences data E3, relationship preferences data R2,and privacy blocks P2. The user of appliance 355 has the followingexemplary static data components: biographical data B2, demographic dataDM1, and cultural data C3; the following exemplary hard dynamic datacomponents: current latitude and longitude LATLONG3, current time of5:00 p.m., current date of December 5th, and available network energy of62 units; and the following soft dynamic data components: foodpreferences data F3, entertainment preferences data E2, relationshippreferences data R1, and privacy blocks P3.

Continuing with table 407 of FIG. 1L, the user of appliance 357 has thefollowing exemplary static data components: biographical data B1,demographic data DM2, and cultural data C1; the following exemplary harddynamic data components: current latitude and longitude LATLONG4,current time of 4:00 p.m., current date of December 5th, and availablenetwork energy of 227 units; and the following soft dynamic datacomponents: food preferences data F3, entertainment preferences data E1,relationship preferences data R1, and privacy blocks P4. In a similarfashion, the user of appliance 359 has the following exemplary staticdata components: biographical data B3, demographic data DM3, andcultural data C2; the following exemplary hard dynamic data components:current latitude and longitude LATLONG5, current time of 4:30 p.m.,current date of December 5th, and available network energy of 39 units;and the following soft dynamic data components: food preferences dataF2, entertainment preferences data E3, relationship preferences data R2,and privacy blocks P5. The user of appliance 361 has the followingexemplary static data components: biographical data B1, demographic dataDM3, and cultural data C3; the following exemplary hard dynamic datacomponents: current latitude and longitude LATLONG6, current time of5:00 p.m., current date of December 5th, and available network energy of200 units; and the following soft dynamic data components: foodpreferences data F1, entertainment preferences data E2, relationshippreferences data R3, and privacy blocks P6.

Each biographic data B1, B2, and B3, each demographic data DM1, DM2, andDM3, and each cultural data C1, C2, and C3 represents a broad collectionof information specific to a particular user, with some informationoverlapping for specific users. Similarly, each food preference data F1,F2, and F3, each entertainment data E1, E2, and E3, and eachrelationship data R1, R2, and R3 is a collection of related datacompiled from the users' responses to many inquiries made over arelatively long period of time, as well as, from certain inferences madeby network 11. Privacy blocks P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6 are specific toeach user and are either set up by the user or the user's parents. Itshould be understood that a large number of each of these types ofpreferences will exist in network 11. In FIG. 1L, the small number ofpreferences have been chosen to illustrate the potential for overlappingpreferences among contextual user profiles.

6.B.2. Content selection engine: The content selection engine works froma profile of content items that indirectly represents a profile ofusers. The basic process is outlined below.

-   -   a. Compute content item similarities. Content item similarities        are determined by the following factors:        -   1. Relevant location;        -   2. Relevant time;        -   3. Associations;        -   4. Categorizations;        -   5. Features;        -   6. Proper key words;        -   7. Originator;

The routines are set up to filter the parameters that participate in thesimilarity calculation. For the first three listed above, this is just“use” or “do not use,” for the associations. It is a mask for eachassociation. When selecting mentors, content associations are theprimary mechanism, with location/time being secondarily used.

For grouping calculations, initially all factors are taken intoconsideration, but user actions can modify which fields are used forsimilarity testing, i.e., adding something to an arrangement identifieswhat is the differences that do not matter—removing a something from anarrangement identifies fields where similarity is apparently notsignificant.

The similarity calculations are straightforward equality checks for thetype of wrapper and originator of content. The location/time cylindercomparisons are relatively simple distance calculations returning adistance and an intersection flag. The content association calculationsappear more complex, but are really just simple distance calculationsdone in an efficient way using bit-wise math.

-   -   b. Through explicit or implicit means acquire positive and        negative content item ratings from users. These ratings area        associated with individual content items (specific or        prototypical) and may have associated time and location        contexts.    -   c. Locate candidate content items through constrained random        selection.    -   d. Probabilities of candidate content items are calculated based        on proximity to previously rated content items, those nearer (in        similarity space) to positively rated content items having a        higher probability than those nearer (in similarity space) to        negatively rated content items. In addition, when a content item        is selected, the content items around it (in similarity space)        have their probabilities temporarily diminished.

Content Selection Services are responsible for creating content payloadson the network for each individual user. A content payload is made up ofa single user id with a group of content ids associated to it. As soonas a user registers their device, a content payload is created andavailable on the network for that user. Initially the content payloadswill be filled with random content. Once the user begins to rate contentthe payloads will become more tailored to each individual userspreferences. Each time the user's device makes a request for content,the user's existing content payload (space allotting) on the network issent to the user and the available space in their content payloadaccount on the network is refreshed with new content. The content ineach payload is selected through a series of complex calculationsdetermining the most appropriate content for each specific user alongwith a few completely random pieces.

When a user buys a device it comes with a set of random content. Whenthey register their device with the network, a content payload accountis created with more random content and stored on the network for thatuser.

Users begin to rate content and buddies on their device over time. Theseratings are sent over to the network on a regular basis. Each rating isstored with a time, location and value (positive or negative). Theratings are kept in a historical format.

A general content request is received from a user. Based on the amountof space available on the device for new content, the existing payloadfor that user is reviewed and the appropriate content is selected andsent to their device (see “Content Services” above). The user's contentpayload is also refilled in parallel. As stated above, the payloadstarts out as generic content but over time becomes tailored to eachindividual's preferences.

The payload is refilled by randomly selecting positive ratings from theuser ratings history for that particular user. It then searches forcontent in the general content pool that is close to it based on aEuclidean distance, which is the straight line distance between twopoints, measure plus space and time parameters of where the particularrating was made.

6.B.3. Relationship influence: As mentioned earlier, users can rateother users. These ratings enable the ratings provided by other users toimpact the content selected for the user who has rated others.

When a user rates a content item, the rating propagates out anonymouslyto everyone who has rated that user positively.

7. Deliver

7.A. Intelligent pre-caching: In the preferred embodiment, anasynchronous data transfer and caching scheme is utilized to mediatenetwork usage and deliver a data responsiveness that exceeds thatpossible with synchronous data delivery over narrowband wirelessnetworks.

Narrowband, wireless packet data networks such as CDPD and GPRS cannotprovide data delivery response times as low as those which users havebecome accustomed to with wide-band or broadband packet data networkconnections such as ISDN, DSL or dedicated leased lined. As a result,wireless enabled devices tend to have long response times after a userrequests data from the network until the data is completely transmittedto the wireless device. In addition, the maximum capacity of currentwireless networks is limited and demand may exceed capacity during peakusage times, further slowing data transfer. Also, wireless network usageduring peak times can be more expensive than usage during off-peaktimes, making it financially beneficial to utilize off-peak time.

By utilizing the scheduling invention illustrated herein, it is possibleto transfer pre-selected data to a memory cache on a device and laterpresent the information to the user automatically and/or when the datais requested. The transfer of pre-selected data is performedasynchronously from the data presentation, allowing a wide-bandconnection and/or off-peak narrowband connection to be used to transferthe data to the memory cache in the device. In this way the presentationof the data makes it appear that the data transfer is exceeding themaximum theoretical bandwidth of the wireless network.

-   -   1. Data transfer        -   a. Asynchronous—ads, games, future events, entertainment,            news        -   b. Synchronous—messages, invitations, awareness    -   2. Bandwidth        -   a. Broadband        -   b. Narrowband    -   3. Network utilization        -   a. Peak usage        -   b. Off-peak usage

7.A.1. Transfer costs

-   -   a) Minimal (connected to fat pipe)    -   b) Cheap (wireless off-peak)    -   c) Expensive (capacity limited times)

7.A.2. Delivery times: In the process of packetizing, it is preferredthat the system knows when it has to have it by and when is it too late.

7.A.2.a. Available to send

7.A.2.b. Must be sent by

7.B. Separation of data and presentation layers: To decompose thepresentations into their base parts and send only what is needed

Resources can be shared

Efficiencies of factoring

Can keep logos separate from ads, so one logo can be used in numerousads

One template can be used to present the same type of data numerousplaces. For instance, one news viewer used by numerous news contentproviders

Used in subscriptions to reduce the size of the data update

8. Present

8.A. Content's context sensitivities interacting with current context:The calculation of neediness is discussed below.

Mechanisms about the interaction between the sensitivities and theactual situation

8.A.1. Client presentation scheduler

8.A.1.a. Probabilistic selection: In accordance with the preferredimplementation of the present invention, a software routine or moduleknown as a “scheduler” is utilized to manage the presentation andrefresh scheduling of digital content on each appliance 351, 353, 355,357, 359, and 361. The scheduler operates to select digital content foreither or both of transmission and reception in accordance with ascheduling model. The presentation of all content items is controlled,managed, or monitored by the scheduler. The scheduler probabilisticallyselects content items for presentation using constrained randomvariation. This can be better understood with reference to FIGS. 1M and1N in the drawings. FIG. 1M is a high-level, simplified representationof the operation of the scheduler with respect to appliances 351 and 357at an initial state. FIG. 1N is a high-level, simplified representationof the operation of the scheduler with respect to appliances 351 and 357at a subsequent state.

In the preferred embodiment, the scheduler resides in its entirety onappliances 351 and 357. However, it should be understood that thescheduler may reside and be executable on network server 109, onappliances 351 and 357, or on a combination of network server 109 andappliances 351 and 357. Irrespective of the location in which thescheduler resides, the scheduler functions and operates in a similarmanner. Therefore, the following discussion will not identify anyparticular location for the scheduler, and will be primarily focused onthe scheduling functions and operations performed by the scheduler. Asis illustrated, a scheduler 451 resides on appliance 351, and anidentical scheduler 453 resides on appliance 357.

Plurality of messages 401 reside on network server 109 and are availablefor communication to appliances 351 and 357, the users of which arelikely located in a particular geographic region, such as geographicregion GR1 (see FIG. 1A). Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, and G havingcorresponding wrappers 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, and 397,respectively, are preferably transmitted from network server 109 toappliances 351 and 357 at a pre-selected time and stored in cache memory392 and 396 for a predetermined duration. It is preferred thattransmissions from network server 109 be performed at a time whenwireless communication bandwidth is at a maximum and connection chargesare at a minimum, typically late at night, or early in the morning. Ofcourse, some digital content may be transmitted or updated “live,” as ithappens. As discussed previously, in certain instances it may benecessary to separate the playable digital content from the otherwrapper elements to conserve cache memory 392 and 396, or when wirelesscommunication bandwidth is insufficient.

As explained above, contextual user preference profiles 411 and 417 arecompiled and reside on appliances 351 and 357, respectively. Schedulers451 and 453 analyze Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F, and G andperform a comparative analysis between each Digital Content items A, B,C, D, E, F, and G and each contextual user profile 411 and 417.Schedulers 451 and 453 consider the location of the user, the time ofday, the day of the week, the date, the identity or source of thedigital content, the type of digital content, the preferences previouslyestablished by the user, and the content subject of the digital content.Schedulers 451 and 453 also consider the privacy settings previouslyestablished by the user or his parents. These privacy settings aremaintained in privacy block data 402 residing on appliance 351, andprivacy block data 404 a and 404 b residing on both appliance 357 andnetwork server 109, respectively. Schedulers 451 and 453 filter, sort,and prioritize Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F and G in a mannerwhich is consistent with the foregoing considerations. However, in thepreferred implementation of the present invention, schedulers 451 and453 are not rigid systems, but are instead probabilistic models whichassociate weights or values with each Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F,and G that is available for presentation to the users at any particulartime. Additionally, schedulers 451 and 453 may associate a confidencemeasure with each weight and value. Accordingly, a weight and aconfidence measure may be utilized in determining whether DigitalContent A, B, C, D, E, F, and G will be offered for presentation to theusers, and, if so, in what order Digital Content A, B, C, D, E, F, or Gwill be communicated to the users, relative to each other.

According to the preferred scheduling model, all digital content has afinite probability of being offered for presentation to the users ofappliances 351 and 357, unless such digital content is absolutely andcompletely blocked for privacy reasons. This is so because theoperations of schedulers 451 and 453 are governed by constrained randomvariation as described herein. In other words, a mere reference value of“Low” will not preclude particular digital content from being offeredfor presentation to a user.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 1M and 1N, each scheduler 451 and 453is comprised of a software “neediness agent” and a “probabilistic wheel”arranged like a roulette wheel having a plurality of bins located aroundthe periphery. Schedulers 451 and 453 generate a bin for each digitalcontent message, regardless of the quantity; however, the bins vary insize, as determined by the ever changing probability that a particulardigital content message will be offered for presentation. Scheduler 451has a neediness agent 461 and a probabilistic wheel 463. Likewise,scheduler 453 has a neediness agent 465 and a plurality of probabilisticbins 467. This is depicted graphically in FIGS. 1M and 1N. FIGS. 1M and1N are identical in all respects with the exception that FIG. 1Mrepresents an initial state or time, and FIG. 1N represents a subsequentstate or time. The following discussion will pertain to FIG. 1N only.

All data from Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, contextualuser profiles 411 and 417, and privacy blocks 402, 404 a, and 404 b isinput into neediness agents 461 and 465. The comparative analysisbetween each Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F, and G andcontextual user profile 411 is performed by neediness agent 451. Inidentical fashion, the comparative analysis between each Digital ContentA, B, C, D, E, F, and G and contextual user profile and 417 is performedby neediness agent 453.

As is shown, probabilistic wheel 463 includes Bin A, Bin B, Bin C, BinD, Bin E, Bin F, and Bin G, each being sized to correspond to at leastthe weight accorded each Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F and G,respectively. Similarly, probabilistic wheel 467 includes Bin A, Bin B,Bin C, Bin D, Bin E, Bin F, and Bin G. The weighing may additionallytake into account the confidence measure associated with the weightdetermination. According to the probabilistic scheduling model, there isa much greater probability of selection and presentation of digitalcontent associated with larger bins. Neediness agent 461 has made Bin Gthe largest bin on probabilistic wheel 463. Similarly, neediness agent465 has made Bin G the largest bin on probabilistic wheel 467.Therefore, of Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F and G, it is mostprobable that Digital Content G will be transmitted, received, andoffered for presentation to the users of appliances 351 ad 357. Thelarge size of Bin G on probabilistic wheels 463 and 467 may be theresult of the weight accorded to Digital Content G, the confidencemeasure for the weight accorded to Digital Content item G, or somecombination of weight and confidence measures.

As is shown on probabilistic wheel 463, Bin A, Bin B, Bin C, and Bin Dare relatively uniform in size, but smaller in size than Bin G. Further,Bin E and Bin F are uniform in size, but are the smallest bins onprobabilistic wheel 463. Thus, Digital Content A, B, C, and D have anequal probability of being offered for presentation to the user ofappliance 351, albeit a lower probability than Digital Content G. Incontrast, although Bin E and Bin F have an equal probability of beingselected for presentation, such probability is the lowest of the bins onprobabilistic wheel 463. As for probabilistic wheel 467, Bin C, Bin D,Bin E, and Bin F are relatively uniform in size, but smaller in sizethan Bin G. Further, Bin A and Bin B are uniform in size, but are thesmallest bins on probabilistic wheel 467. Thus, Digital Content items C,D, E, and F have an equal probability of being offered for presentationto the user of appliance 357, albeit a lower probability than DigitalContent item G. In contrast, although Bin A and Bin B have an equalprobability of being selected for presentation, such probability is thelowest of the bins on probabilistic wheel 467.

It is important to note that schedulers 451 and 453 intelligentlyconsider the amount of network energy required to play particulardigital content, and the amount of network energy that is available foruse by each user. If a user is low on network energy, neediness agents461 and 465 will decrease the probability of presenting digital contentthat “burn” large amounts of network energy. Instead, neediness agents461 and 465 will increase the probability of offering for presentationdigital content for which the users may “earn” network energy. Forexample, if the user of appliance 351 is low on network energy,neediness agent 461 will decrease the probability of offering forpresentation Digital Content item D, which requires five units ofnetwork energy to execute. On the other hand, neediness agent 461 willincrease the probability of offering for presentation Digital Contentitem E, for which the user may earn 20 units of network energy forcompleting the survey.

According to the present invention, the user does not know what digitalcontent has been stored in cache memory to be offered for presentation.However, the user indirectly controls what digital content is offeredfor presentation by the user's interaction with network 11. However, theuser may initiate a search session in which the user requests particulardigital content information. Because network 11 is highly user centric,such user-initiated searching receives a high priority. For example, ifthe user of appliance 357 initiates a search session to determine thestarting time of the user's next soccer game, neediness agent 465 willimmediately and greatly increase the probability of offering DigitalContent item G for presentation to the user. Such user-initiatedinteraction with appliance 357 will predominate over other goals ofnetwork 11. The other goals of network 11 are secondary touser-initiated interaction.

Neediness agent 461 analyses and compares Digital Content items A, B, C,D, E, F, and G with contextual user profile 411. The comparativeanalysis necessarily includes consideration of privacy blocks 402. As aresult of this comparative analysis, neediness agent 461 determines therelative size of the bins on probabilistic wheel 463 and then randomlyselects which digital content should be offered for presentation to theuser of appliance 351. The relative size of the bins will depend uponeither the weight accorded the digital content messages or theconfidence level associated with the weighing. As is shown, it is mostprobable that Digital Content item A, B, C, D, and G is presented, insome form or another, on display 352 (see also FIG. 1H). It should benoted that Digital Content A is displayed incrementally larger or moreprominently as the user approaches LATLONG1, the preferred location setby Merchant #12. The severe weather warning of Digital Content item B isdisplayed immediately to any user in the path of the severe weather.Digital Content items C and D will likely be displayed as soon aspossible. Finally, Digital Content G will be available for presentationshould the user initiate such presentation by way of searching orotherwise interacting with appliance 351. Scheduler 451 constantlychanges and updates the sizes of Bin A, Bin B, Bin C, Bin D, Bin E, BinF, and Bin G on probabilistic wheel 463, depending upon date, time, userlocation, available user energy, and many other parameters associatedwith contextual user profile 411. This is illustrated by the differencesin the sizes of Bin A, Bin B, Bin C, Bin D, Bin E, Bin F, and Bin Gbetween FIG. 1M and 1N. It should also be noted that the probability ofpresentation of a particular digital content message is independent ofthe period for which the digital content is to be displayed. Forexample, the fact that Digital Content item D has designated to beavailable for three hours may have little affect on whether DigitalContent item D is offered for presentation, that is until the period ofthree hours expires.

Scheduler 453 of appliance 357 operates in a similar fashion. Forscheduler 453, Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F, and G areanalyzed and compared to contextual user profile 417. Neediness agent465 analyses and compares Digital Content items A, B, C, D, E, F, and Gwith contextual user profile 417. The comparative analysis necessarilyincludes consideration of privacy blocks 404 a and 404 b. As a result ofthis comparative analysis, neediness agent 465 determines the relativesize of the bins on probabilistic wheel 467 and then randomly selectswhich digital content should be offered for presentation to the user ofappliance 357. The relative size of the bins will depend upon either theweight accorded the digital content messages or the confidence levelassociated with the weighing. Due to the different relative sizes of thebins, it is most probable that Digital Content items C, D, E, F, and Gis presented, in some form or another, on display 358 (see also FIG.1H).

It will be appreciated that one implementation of the present inventionmay be the generation of a “scheduling agent” which is identified with aparticular user. This scheduling agent may be extremely sensitive tolocation of the particular user as he or she moves between serviceregions 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221 within the network 11 (see FIG. 1F).The implementation of such scheduling agents allows schedulers 451 and453 to generate location-dependent changes in the relative sizes of thebins of probabilistic wheels 463 and 467 as the users move about betweenservice regions 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221 (see FIG. 1F). In thismanner, the probability that location-dependent digital content will beoffered for presentation to the user is increased as the user approachesthe optimum location for presentation of the digital content, asdetermined by the sponsoring entity. This type of intensely localtargeted communication can be extremely effective, particularly if thedigital content is an advertisement. This will be discussed in greaterdetail below in several examples of offering certain digital content forpresentation based primarily upon location information.

Additionally, schedulers 451 and 453 may be “adaptive,” such thatschedulers 451 and 453 change over time. Such changes may either be“reactive” or “predictive.” These adaptive changes to schedulers 451 and453 are different than changes in contextual user profiles 411 and 417,which are constantly updated. Reactive changes to schedulers 451 and 453may represent “step function” changes, such as a relatively long-termrelocation of a user to a new distant locale, or “incremental” changes,such as a maturing of the user of a long period of time. Thissensitivity to subtle changes can correspond to, be responsive to, andtracked with, changes in taste and preferences for the individual user.A step function adaptive change would occur in scheduler 451 if the userwent on a vacation across the country for two weeks. Scheduler 451 wouldrecognize this long-term change in location and adapt by offeringdifferent digital content, possibly digital content relating to the newlocation, for presentation. Further, the interests of a user who isseven or eight years old may differ substantially from the interests ofa user who is fourteen or fifteen years old. If the user is a member ofnetwork 11 for that entire interval of time, from age seven to agefifteen, the user will be presented with repeated opportunities toupdate, modify, and supplement contextual user profile 411. As a result,incremental adaptive changes occur in scheduler 451 as the user agesover long periods of time. As tastes change due to maturation or otherfactors, scheduler 451 may also change and accord different weights todifferent sources, types, and subject matter of digital content. Thistype of response to either step function changes or incremental changescan be considered to be reactive changes.

On the other hand, schedulers 451 and 453 allow for and encouragecertain types of “predictive” changes. As contextual user profiles 411and 417 are complied, network 11 is better able predict far in advancethe types of digital content which may be or could be of interest to theusers, even before the users actually develop an interest in suchsubject matter. This allows network 11 to “lead” the user to digitalcontent which may be of interest to the user based upon inferencesgenerated from contextual user profiles 411 and 417. This contrasts withthe reactive changes discussed above which can be considered a form of“lagging” behind changes in the users' conditions. Predictive changes inschedulers 451 and 453 can be useful in targeted advertising as theinformation for all users can be analyzed and patterns can be determinedfor likes, dislikes, and preferences from the aggregated data ofthousands of users. One example would be the advertisement of aparticular book or type of music based upon a statistically reliableinference that users which like one type of book or music may also likeanother type of book or music which is somehow stylistically orotherwise related.

8.A.1.a.1 DELIVERY OF CONTENT BASED UPON KNOWN USER PREFERENCES: In theexample of FIGS. 1H, 1I, 1J, 1K, 1L, 1M, and 1N, the differences betweenthe digital content displayed on appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, and361 can be explained by differences between the users, as determinedthrough examination of the respective contextual user profiles, such ascontextual user profiles 411 and 417. By examining appliances 351, 353,355, 357, 359, and 361 in FIG. 1H, it is clear that certain digitalcontent is more common to some users, but less common to other users.For example, there is a significant overlap between the digital contentitems received by the user of appliance 351 and the digital contentreceived by the user of appliance 361. This overlap is based uponsimilarities in the respective contextual user profiles. In contrast,there is little similarity between the digital content received by theuser of appliance 353 and the digital content received by the user ofdevice 355. This lack of overlap is based upon differences in therespective contextual user profiles. Note that Digital Content D and Gare communicated to all appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, and 361.Thus, it is highly likely that LATLONG1, LATLONG2, LATLONG3, LATLONG4,LATLONG5, and LATLONG6 are all located within a single service region,such as geographic region GR1.

Users that have largely overlapping digital content can be considered asusers who are “sharing” virtual space. If two or more users know oneanother and also share common virtual space through the receipt ofgenerally similar digital content items, their user-experience can bericher and more enjoyable, and they can begin to build “community”within network 11 based upon common interests. This may take many formsincluding the creation, distribution, and sharing of digital content. Itcan also take the form of “virtual introductions.” Essentially, there isa substantial opportunity for the development of community systems.Community systems and novel functions enabled by the present inventionwill be discussed in greater detail below when the preferred communitysystems are discussed.

8.A.1.a.2 PRIMACY OF USER PRIVACY PREFERENCES: Privacy is primary fornetwork 11. User preferences, not network or merchant preferences, havepriority.

8.A.1.a.3 INFERRED ACTION AND PURPOSE: One additional novel functionenabled by the present invention is the ability of network 11 to inferaction and purpose of the user based upon certain types of data. Ofcourse, contextual user profiles are extremely useful in inferringaction and purpose. However, location information and time informationare equally important in inferring action and purpose. In the simplestform, the action and purpose of a particular user can be inferredthrough the analysis of location information only. For example, if theuser communicates with network 11 from a “school” location, it would bereasonable to assume that the user is present for purposes related toobtaining an education. However, it may be useful to also consider timeinformation in addition to location information to better determine orinfer action and/or purpose of a particular user. For example, thecommunication by the user from a “school” location during a weekend orholiday may infer different types of action or purpose, such asattendance at a sporting event. Certainly, determinations based uponlocation and time are likely to be more accurate than determinationsbased upon location information alone.

It is also possible for network 11 to analyze changes in either or bothof location and time in order to infer action and purpose. For example,if the user has traveled from a first known location to a second knownlocation in a particular time frame, it may be possible for network 11to examine the time and location data from the user's contextual userprofile to determine the most likely activity in which the user is aboutto become engaged. For example, with reference to FIGS. 1E, 1F, and therelated tables of FIGS. 1G (1 of 5) through 1G (5 of 5), if the user hastraveled from service region 219 from Home 239 to service region 213, ona particular day and time, network 11 can reasonably conclude that theuser is going to either Riding Stables 225 or Water Park 227. Inaddition, network 11 can examine date information to determine if it ismore likely that the user is going to Water Park 227 or Riding Stables225. For example, in a winter season, it is unlikely that the user willbe traveling to Water Park 227. Furthermore, an examination by network11 of the user's profile, which has been compiled over a relatively longperiod of time, such as months, may result in a determination that theuser ordinarily takes his riding lessons on a particular day and time,such as Saturday at 10:00 a.m. With this known data, network 11 can makereasonably accurate determinations about the actions and purposes of theuser. Thus, travel on a particular day and time between service region219 where Home 239 is located to service region 213 where Riding Stables225 are located may give rise to a very reliable inference that the useris going to take riding lessons.

The following are several concrete illustrations of the utilization oflocation information only, location and time information, and changes ineither of location and/or time information in order to infer actionand/or purpose of the user. This information is useful because certaintypes of digital content may be more appropriate, relevant, or effectiveif offered for presentation at a particular time relative to an inferredaction or purpose. For example, offering for presentation a commercialmessage from stores located in a particular mall is much more effectiveand relevant if network 11 can reasonably infer that a user is locatedat or in route to that particular mall.

8.A.1.a.4 USE OF LOCATION INFORMATION ONLY TO INFER ACTION: Network 11might infer that if a user is at “work,” she is working. The system canexploit this knowledge by giving higher priority to content items thatare associated with work-related activities.

8.A.1.a.5 USE OF LOCATION AND TIME INFORMATION TO INFER ACTION AND/ORPURPOSE: Network 11 might infer that if a user is at “school” on aweekend night, she is attending a sporting event. For example, if theuser is at school after hours or on a weekend in the fall, the actionand purpose of the user may be inferred to be non-educational, such asattendance at a football game.

8.A.1.a.6 USE OF CHANGES IN LOCATION AND/OR TIME TO INFER ACTION AND/ORPURPOSE: In addition, if the user travels from one “known” location toanother, network 11 may be able to infer the activity that the user isabout to become involved in. For example, network 11 may infer that if auser is traveling from “Restaurant A,” at which the user was located forthe last hour, toward “work,” that the user is going back to work.

The relative probabilities assigned to each content item and used by thethat the scheduler vary with the current context and the contextualsensitivities of the set of content items being scheduled. The relativeprobabilities are computing using the neediness measures calculatedindividually for each content item. This calculation is discussed in thefollowing section.

8.A.1.b. Neediness: DEFINITION OF NEEDINESS: An aggregated relevancybased on many factors which determine how important a piece of contentis to a user under their current context. Essentially it is acombination of effects that are mapped back to a value.

Components that Affect Neediness:

-   -   a. Content.    -   b. Context (kept current all the time).        -   i. Device.        -   ii. Objective.        -   iii. Subjective.        -   iv. Preferences.    -   c. Preferences (Ratings).

Neediness Changes Because:

a. Content Changes—Something a user has an awareness to escalates to ahigher level of wanting to be seen, i.e., awareness trigger.

b. User actions—changes context, for example, find something, send amessage.

c. Device status—docked status, signal conditions, etc.

d. PG rating—rating flag is a hard limit on what can be seen

e. Prerequisites—list of content that must have been seen within acertain space/time cylinder, which can be positive or negative.

f. Interruptiveness—immediate pass-through.

g. Loneliness—used to suppress repeat content. Individual time-constantbased.

h. Space/time sensitivity—cylinder list intersections.

i. Habits (categorized place/time)—The experience platform enablesindividual device-holders to model their habits in terms of times,locations, and system-defined categories. At their discretion,device-holders are able to name the locations that want their device toknow about. These location names are used when device-holders choose toexpose their location information to other selected device-holders. Thedevice “looks up” the current named place/time wherever the user is. Itcurrently uses the smallest cylinder as their location if the user is intwo overlapping cylinders. The rationale is that it makes the user'slocation more specific.

In addition to providing their own names for locations, device-holderscan assign a habit category to a location. Actually, they can do thiswhether or not they provide a name for the location. The system serviceprovider provides a plurality, preferably sixteen, predefined habitcategories from which device-holders can choose. The habit categoriesrepresent places at which it can be inferred that a variety of typicalbehaviors and activities will take place. The habit categories will alsohave a predefined radius based on what it is. Content creators can takeadvantage of these inferred behaviors and activities and use them toaffect the neediness of their content. A content creator can make theneediness of a given presentation package be sensitive to habits bylisting applicable habit categories in the wrapper for that presentationpackage. An exemplary set of habit categories is listed below. This setis may be adapted as necessary.

j. Habit Categories:

-   -   i. Home.    -   ii. School.    -   iii. Work/Job.    -   iv. Culture & Education.    -   v. Church.    -   vi. Mall.    -   vii. Restaurant/Cafe.    -   viii. Concert Hall/Venue.    -   ix. Movie theater.    -   x. Sports Stadium.    -   xi. Downtown.    -   xii. City Park.    -   xiii. Amusement Park.    -   xiv. Public Transportation.    -   xv. Participatory Sports.    -   xvi. Friend's/Relative's House.

k. Ratings—how the user rated it as well as when and where (time andplace) he rated it.

-   -   i. Specific—Explicit ratings for previously rated content—this        is affected by the time and location of the previous ratings.    -   ii. Inferred—Content it refers back to on the device to make a        rating. Each wrapper includes a key comprised of ratings,        provided by its creator, to a plurality of, preferably        ninety-six, characteristics, called content associations. The        content association key provides a ninety-six-feature        description of a presentation package that is mapped to a        ninety-six dimensional space. The key provides a basis for        inferring a preference rating for its associated presentation        package in the absence of an explicit rating provided by the        device-holder or a preliminary specific rating provided by the        relationship network for it.

The preference inference process is carried out by a content mentoringmechanism. Basically, any content item that is explicitly rated by adevice holder will act as a potential mentor for other content whosecontent association key is similar. The degree of similarity between anytwo presentation-packages is determined by computing a Euclideandistance measure between the content association keys of thepresentation-packages. Because the associations keys have four levels ofstrength of association for each of the ninety-six dimensions, thedistance metric ranges from 0 (identical) to 29.39. The set of contentassociations is divided up into several categories. At the mostfundamental level there is a distinction between category associationsand property associations. Category associations provide acharacterization of content in terms of taxonomic distinctions. Propertyassociations provide a characterization in terms of properties that cutacross the various categories. In this way, content similarity, orcloseness, is sensitive to both categorical and property descriptions.

-   -   iii. Identifying Mentors—Used to infer the preference of a piece        of content that has not been rated yet to an explicitly rated        piece of content, i.e., a mentor. This happens based on some        similarity of the unrated content and the mentor. A piece of        content can have more than one mentor.    -   iv. Preliminary—comes from relationship network.

l. Energy Balance—works to keep balance at a certain level (centered).

m. Transfer balance (number of bytes)—budgets the amount of bandwidthusage—space it out over a month period.

(1) Context driven.

-   -   8.B. User Interface: Purpose: Use-case analysis describes the        different uses of a system (or subsystem) by each of the        different types of its users. The analysis of usage was refined        several times and resulted in identifying three primary        high-level uses: acquiring and maintaining awareness,        communicating, and searching. Of the major uses, awareness is        the use that most sets the UI apart from other device UI's.        Further, it is the integration of awareness services with other        familiar features that makes the network of the present        invention a truly compelling product. An early focus group        study, an ecological study, and a later quantitative evaluation        helped both in refining and in supporting the value of the        identified combination of uses. So the UI needs to be highly        effective in:

Providing Awareness

Integrating other features coherently and consistently with theawareness structures in the UI

An exception to this is personalization of which there are two distincttypes:

Giving users much flexibility in specifying the information they wantedto be aware of and how it was arranged.

Providing users with the capability to create their own content, eitherto share with others on the network or to self-brand their device withtheir individual styles.

Only the first personalization use, that is, the need to provide userswith flexibility in selecting and organizing information, becameimportant to defining the UI framework.

8.B.1. Awareness Items

As used here, awareness encompasses a wide range of different types ofinformation about, among other things, friends, events, processes, news,and merchant offers. Awareness is also manifested in different ways. Wedefined four forms of awareness that the network and its UI needed to becapable of supporting.

1. Awareness of what is close to you and happening around you at thepresent time. For example, awareness of the nearest ATM or Starbucks,and awareness of a special offer at a favorite nearby restaurantdelivered to you near lunchtime.

2. Awareness of things that will happen or become effective at varioustimes in the future. For example, awareness of an upcoming concert orsoon to be released movie, awareness of invitations to parties ormeetings, and awareness of new products.

3. Awareness about things that are of interest and that are happeningnow, but that are not near you or directly observable. For example,awareness of the score of a baseball game, awareness of stock quotes,awareness of a package delivery, and awareness of the location offriends.

4. Awareness of state and status of your activities and the system. Forexample, awareness of received messages, awareness of pending work suchas an unfinished IM, awareness of the status of a sent message, andawareness that the battery is low or that you have lost connectivity.

8.B.2. Arrangement layer

-   -   a) Minimized content state    -   b) Viewing a few characteristics    -   c) Content item

8.B.3. Work layer

-   -   a) Maximized (opened) content state    -   b) Manipulation

8.B.4. Stream

-   -   a) “trailer” (animated content preview) content state    -   b) Contextual alerts

8.B.5. Switcher

-   -   a) Scaled-Minimized content state    -   b) Rapid navigational tool    -   c) Arrangement to arrangement

8.B.6. Menus and alerts

-   -   a) Contextual actions    -   b) User error alerts

8.C. UI (Alternate)

8.D. UI—Audio

8.E. UI Themes

8.E.1. Demographically configured: In accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the contextual user profile canhave secondary uses, including determining the scheme, design, layout,and/or content of graphical user interfaces (GUI's) for thelocation-aware wireless communication appliances. The determination of aGUI which might be most pleasing and acceptable to a member may bedetermined by and based upon the location information and demographicinformation for that particular member. Data regarding regional ordemographical preferences may be aggregated to determine the mostappropriate GUI.

8.E.2. Personality configured: Alternatively or additionally, a GUI maybe determined, at least in part, by the personality of a particularmember, based upon biographical, personal, and preferences data gatheredfor that particular member. Such data can be aggregated for a largenumber of users to determine the types of GUI's that are most pleasingto those types of members.

8.F. Rating mechanisms: As mentioned in Section 3.C, ratings enable thenetwork platform to tune the selection and scheduling of content to eachindividual user's likes and needs. This tuning is the benefit accrued bythe user for making the effort to rate content. However, rating isalways an optional activity. See Sections 3.D, 6.B.2, and 8.A, forfurther details on the influence of ratings on content selection andscheduling.

8.F.1 Explicit methods: One method of acquiring ratings is by collectingexplicit input form each user with regard to presented content. Ascontent is presented, users are provided with the opportunity to ratethe presented content. Nominally, the content item currently beingpresented in the Stream is the focus for the rating. The opportunity torate is provided unobtrusively and is a natural way of interacting withthe system. Since the Stream is generally continuous, the opportunity torate content items is also generally continuously available.

The system is also inquisitive and can actively make inquiries of theuser. For example, a content item may ask the user a generic questionsuch as “do you like pizza?” A question of this sort can act as a mentorto the selection of other more specific content items related to it(e.g., an offer from a specific pizza restaurant). The inquisitivenessof the system is inherent in the manner in which content items arescheduled. It manifests itself in a conversational style that can beused to initiate a dialog-like interaction with the user.

A mechanism used to collect ratings explicitly from users is an analogresponder mechanism that enables the user to make a choice among aone-dimensional spectrum of inputs ranging from unfavorable tofavorable. The spectrum of choices can be continuous or discrete (inwhich case the analog nature of the response is approximated). Theanalog responder mechanism can be enabled in hardware or software. Inany case, the analog responder mechanism is made readily available tothe user when needed and can register a rating with a single inputaction from the user. Section 11.A.2, Analog responder, provides adetailed description of this mechanism.

8.F.2 Implicit methods: An alternative method of acquiring ratings is byimplicitly gathering information about user behaviors with regard tocontent and automatically assigning ratings on the basis of thebehaviors. For example, the degree to which a user interacts with agiven content item (either in terms of duration, or breadth and depth ofexploration) can be collected and used to assign a rating (i.e., thegreater the interaction the more favorable the rating).

8.F.3 Forgeffulness: Ratings of specific and prototypical content,whether obtained from explicit or implicit methods, provide informationabout each user's likes and dislikes in an ongoing way. Over time,ratings will tend to narrow the scope of content a given user sees byincreasingly biasing the selection of content toward what the user isknown to like. This tuning is desirable, and it adapts well to changesin a user's taste in the favorable to unfavorable direction. However, itis also desirable for the system to be able to adapt to changes that arein the unfavorable to favorable direction. To accomplish this, thesystem incorporates a forgetting mechanism. Ratings lose their strengthwith time. The longer the interval since a rating was collected thelower its influence over content selection will be.

8.F.4 Contextually situated ratings: Context can be a major factor inthe utility or desirability of content. For example, an offer for a freecup of coffee may be very welcome and useful on the way to work in themorning, but not late at night at home. To account for the impact ofcontext on preference, ratings are collected with time and locationassociations. Thus, a user's preferences relate to both thecharacteristics of the content and the context in which it is used.

8.F.5 Ratings of people: People are represented in the system as contentitems. Users can rate these “people” content items. In doing so, usersestablish relationship links that enable the ratings that other usersgive to content items to influence their own content selection andscheduling. See section 3.I, Relationship network, and 6.B.3,Relationship influence, for further details.

8.F.6 Rating summary points:

-   -   a. A user's profile is represented as a set of preference        ratings to content items.    -   b. Ratings help to tune content selection and scheduling.    -   c. Ratings may be acquired through explicit (user specified) or        implicit (behaviorally derived) methods.    -   d. Users can input ratings using a responder mechanism that        includes a spectrum of value choices (either in analog or        discrete form).    -   e. The influence of ratings dissipates with time.    -   f. Ratings are associated with the context in which they are        acquired.    -   g. People (represented by content items) can be rated. These        ratings are applied to broaden the content selection and        scheduling process.

8.G. Inquisitiveness: Inquisitiveness in the form of a content item thatembeds a question that is rated was discussed briefly above. However,the mechanisms and techniques of inquisitiveness have broaderapplication and are discussed in greater detail here. In accordance withthe preferred implementation of the present invention, location-awarewireless communication appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 are systemswhich initialize and configure themselves through highly anthropomorphicdialogs between appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 and the correspondingusers. In this manner, appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 can generallybe considered “plug and play” in their ease of use during theinitialization and configuration operations. The following is adiscussion of an exemplary or illustrative dialog between appliance D1and the user during the initialization and configuration.

As discussed briefly above, the user may also be “profiled” by network11 through direct interaction, preferably through highly anthropomorphicdialogs between network 11 acting through the particular location-awarewireless communication appliance D1 and the user. In other words, thedialog will appear to the user to be a dialog with a human. In order toenhance this illusion network 11 may assign a name, identity,communication style, and even a personality type to the dialog. Inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,network 11 includes a number of software agents that operate to initiatea dialog or interleave a series of questions which are utilized bynetwork 11 to gather certain types of information about each particularuser. Such dialog or series of questions will be referred to herein as“inquisitiveness.” The information may include biographical data, whichrelates only to a particular user; demographic data, which may, inaggregation, provide generally useful information to network 11; andpreferences data, which provides very particular information about eachuser, but which may also be aggregated in order to provide high-levelinformation which may be useful to network 11.

In accordance with the preferred implementation of the presentinvention, this inquisitiveness takes the form of a highly human dialogbetween one or more particular software agents running on network 11 andthe particular user. The series of questions or dialogs may beinterleaved or dispersed among or between other types of communicationsand/or digital content. In other words, there is no requirement that theuser be subjected to an experience similar to responding to a writtenquestionnaire or responding to an interrogation. In sharp contrast, inaccordance with the preferred implementation of the present invention,the questions may be spaced out over a relatively long time interval,for example, many months, and presented in a manner which is notoffensive, burdensome, or taxing to the user; but which instead may takethe form of interesting dialogs or exchanges between network 11 and theuser. The inquisitiveness experience may become even more interestingand rewarding to the user when an identity and/or personality isassigned to the inquisitiveness software agents operating to obtain theinformation. Also, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, there isno requirement that the information be gathered in any particular order;therefore, each user may have a unique experience in terms of dealingwith or responding to an inquisitive questioning or dialog initiated bythe software agents operating in network 11. Over relatively long timeintervals, however, the same types of information can be amassed foreach particular user.

FIG. 1E is a simplified table representation of some types of basicinformation that can be aggregated or assembled for a particular user.In FIG. 1E, three broad categories of data are shown: biographical data151, demographic data 153, and preferences data 155. For each broadcategory 151, 153, and 155, three columns of exemplary data areillustrated: a data element column 157, a confidence column 159, and acorrelation column 161. Data element column 157 contains particular dataelements. Confidence column 159 contains either a quantitative orqualitative determination by the software agent of a confidence level inthe accuracy of the data element. Correlation column 161 contains eithera quantitative or qualitative record of an internal cohesiveness orcoherence of the data element as determined through dialogs or inquiriesspecifically utilized to uncover inconsistencies or incongruities in thedata elements.

Broad categories 151, 153, and 155 may each have subcategories. Forexample, biographic data category 151 may include the followingsubcategories: name subcategory 163, gender subcategory 165, agesubcategory 167, and ethnic background subcategory 169. As is shown,data element column 157 contains the data element “Sue” in namesubcategory 163, the data element “female” in gender subcategory 165,the data element “13” in age subcategory 167, and the data element“Chinese-American” in ethnic background subcategory 169. In thisexample, confidence column 159 includes a qualitative confidencedetermination of the accuracy of the data elements. As is shown,confidence column 159 contains the qualitative determination of “High”for the data element “Sue” in name subcategory 163 and for the dataelement “female” in gender subcategory 165; but only the qualitativedetermination of “Medium” for the data element “13” in age subcategory167 and for the data element “Chinese America” in ethnic backgroundsubcategory 169. Thus, at the time of the example illustrated in FIG.1E, network 11 has high confidence in the name and gender information,but only medium confidence in the age and ethnic background information.In this example, correlation column 161 includes a qualitativedetermination of the relative correlation of the data elements. As isshown, correlation column 161 contains the qualitative determination of“Yes” for the data element “Sue” in name subcategory 163, for the dataelement “female” in gender subcategory 165, and for the data element“13” in age subcategory 167; but the qualitative determination of “No”for the data element “Chinese American” in ethnic background subcategory169. Thus, correlation column 161 indicates that the name, gender, andage data has been correlated through different queries and that they arecoherent or cohesive; but that the ethnic background data has not beencorrelated, resulting in some uncertainty as to this data element. Inpractical terms, this type of determination is consistent with someonehaving a dual ethnicity, such as a “Chinese-American.”

Continuing with the example of FIG. 1E, demographic data category 153may include the following subcategories: culture subcategory 171, regionsubcategory 173, and likely family income subcategory 175. As is shown,data element column 157 contains the data element “American” in culturesubcategory 171, the data element “East Coast” in region subcategory173, the data element “High” in likely family income subcategory 175. Inthis example, confidence column 159 contains the qualitativedetermination of “High” for only the data element “East Coast” in regionsubcategory 173; but only the qualitative determination of “Low” for thedata element “American” in culture subcategory 171 and for the dataelement “High” in likely family income subcategory 175. Thus, at thetime of the example illustrated in FIG. 1E, network 11 has highconfidence in the region information, but only low confidence in theculture and likely family income information. As is shown, correlationcolumn 161 contains the qualitative determination of “Yes” for the dataelement “East Coast” in region subcategory 173; but the qualitativedetermination of “No” for the data element “American” in culturesubcategory 169 and for the data element “High” in likely family incomesubcategory 175. Thus, correlation column 161 indicates that the regiondata has been correlated through different queries and that it iscoherent or cohesive; but that the culture and likely family income datahave not been correlated, resulting in some uncertainty as to these dataelements.

Preferences data category 155 may contain information on the particularlikes, dislikes, and preferences for a particular user. In the exampleof FIG. 1E, preferences data category 155 may include the followingsubcategories: action movies subcategory 177, hip-hop music subcategory179, and clothing from The Gap subcategory 181. As is shown, dataelement column 157 contains the data element “High Interest” in actionmovies subcategory 177, the data element “Low Interest” in hip-hop musicsubcategory 179, the data element “High Interest” in clothing from TheGap subcategory 181. In this example, confidence column 159 contains thequalitative determination of “High” for the data element “High Interest”in action movies subcategory 177 and for the data element “HighInterest” in clothing from The Gap subcategory; but only the qualitativedetermination of “Low” for the data element “Low Interest” in hip-hopmusic subcategory 179. Further, correlation column 161 contains thequalitative determination of “Yes” for the data element “High Interest”in clothing from The Gap subcategory 181; but the qualitativedetermination of “No” for the data element “High Interest” in actionmovies subcategory 177 and for the data element “Low Interest” inhip-hop music subcategory 179. Thus, in the example of FIG. 1E, the userhas a “high interest” in action movies, and this information has beenaccorded a “high” confidence level, but which has not been correlatedthrough other queries or interaction. Additionally, the user has a “lowinterest” in hip-hop music, but this information has been accorded a“low” confidence level, and there has been no correlation through otherqueries or interaction. Additionally, this particular user has a “highinterest” in clothing from The Gap, with a high confidence level forthis data, and verification of the information through correlation withother queries or other interaction.

As is evident from the example of FIG. 1E, a great deal of informationcan be gathered relating to a particular user. In practice, there may bethousands of data elements which are determined over a relatively longinterval of time through repeated, interesting, highly-conversational,and anthropomorphic interaction between network 11, operating throughlocation-aware wireless communication appliance D1 and the user. In thismanner, the user can be modeled quite accurately and extensively. Thismodeling information can be very useful to a service provider fornetwork 11, and for any affiliated entities. Such entities may includenon-profit community entities, but may also include for-profitenterprises which provide goods or services to the users of network 11.Having a great deal of highly-accurate, detailed information, relatingto the user's schedule—location, personal information, demographicinformation, and particular preferences can be highly advantageous fortightly focused, narrowcasted advertisements or solicitations. This typeof focused advertising has been determined by experts to be extremelyeffective. However, the goals of the present invention are not entirelycommercial.

This type of information is also useful in allowing adolescents toidentify others with similar or different backgrounds, habits, likes,dislikes, and other preferences. This is useful in establishing anetwork of friends and acquaintances, and is especially useful inbuilding “community” through the network established utilizing thelocation-aware wireless communication appliances D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5.For adolescents, there is generally high interest in such communityactivities.

8.H. Prioritized Interrupts: Referring now to FIG. 3B in the drawings, ablock diagram representation of the preferred operating system for theappliance of the present invention is illustrated. As is shown, agraphics controller 1551 serves to manage the digital content displayedon display screen 1537. A thumbboard controller 1553 is dedicated forcontrolling the operation of thumbboard 1527. An analog respondercontroller 1554 is dedicated for controlling the operation of analogresponder 1528. A GPS stack 1555 is associated with GPS module 1507which transmits and receives GPS data and information from GPS antenna1505. A TCP/IP stack 1557 is associated with CDPD modem 1509 whichtransmits and receives CDPD data through CDPD antenna 1507. A videoapplication program interface (API) 1561 is associated with a videodevice driver 1559 which is communicatively coupled with graphicscontroller 1551. A thumbboard API 1565 is associated with a thumbboarddevice driver 1563 which is communicatively coupled with thumbboardcontroller 1553. An analog responder API 1564 is associated with ananalog responder device driver 1566 which is communicatively coupledwith analog responder controller 1554. A GPS API 1569 is associated witha GPS communication device driver 1567 which is communicativelyconnected via a serial input/output port to GPS stack 1555. A CDPD API1573 is associated with a CDPD communication device driver 1571 which iscommunicatively coupled via serial input/output to TCP/IP stack 1557.API's 1561, 1565, 1569, and 1573 are communicatively coupled to anoperating system 1575. Joysticks 1530, sound controller 1549, andadditional input elements 1529 may be associated with comparable API'sand device drivers.

Operating system 1575 is preferably a conventional operating system,such as ThreadX available from Express Logic, Inc., which has beenported to function with CPU 1501, and which has been customized tofunction on network 11. A conventional file system 1576, preferablyFileX available from Digital Filing Solutions, Inc., operates inconjunction with operating system 1575 and manages data and files onappliance 1500. In accordance with the preferred implementation of thepresent invention, a Flash rendering engine 1577 is communicativelycoupled to operating system 1575 and file system 1576. It is preferredthat the dynamic user interface (DUI) is predominantly a series of Flashmovies, graphics, or animations which are rendered or displayed ondisplay screen 1537 and adapted to provide information to the user inthe form of messages or other communications, and to receive input fromthe user from either thumbboard 1527, analog responder 1528, joysticks1530, or additional input elements 1529. As is shown, an applicationscheduling module 1579 is provided for application scheduling and userinput control. A plurality of applications, such as application 1581 andapplication 1583, may be running simultaneously on appliance 1500.Application scheduling module 1579 manages applications 1581 and 1583 byallocating system resources so that network 11 and appliance 1500function properly and efficiently. A scripting API 1585 may also beprovided in communication with application scheduling module 1579.Scripting API 1585 manages and controls a plurality of customapplications, such as custom application 1587 and custom application1589.

MESSAGING CENTRIC NETWORK SYSTEM WITH LOW LATENCY: In accordance withthe preferred implementation of the present invention, messagingfunctions are accorded a primary status within the network and deviceoperation. Accordingly, interrupts within the device which areassociated with external communication are given a priority of operationover other applications which are running locally within any particularlocation-aware wireless communication appliance. This results in a lowlatency in communication.

8.I. Suspend/resume of awareness subscriptions

9. Refresh

9.A. Awareness hidden subscription model.

9.B. Things grabbed from stream are auto-subscribed.

10. Network

10.A. Packet data: The present invention preferably utilizes a CDPDprotocol for the communication of digital content. However, it should beunderstood that network 11 may be adapted to utilize other communicationprotocols, such as the 3rd Generation (3G) protocol supported by theconsortium led by AT&T and Ericson, other protocols supported by otherwireless communication consortia, Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and/or otherglobal standards.

CDPD:

GPRS:

10.B. Gateways: In accordance with the preferred implementation of thepresent invention, one or more modes of communication which are possibleutilizing network 11 and appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, or 361 maybe integrated with the e-mail and/or instant messaging functions ofeither or both of AMERICA ONLINE, ICQ, and/or MSN and others.

11. Device

11.A. Hardware

11.A.1. Physical configuration: Until now, handheld, wireless deviceshave primarily been used for person-to-person communication by voice,transmitting and receiving voice data in real-time. These “mobile phone”devices have allowed users to go wherever they like and still be intouch with their friends and colleagues just as though they were using awired phone at home or work. Communication by textual means, such ase-mail, has been performed almost exclusively over land-based copper andfiber optic phone lines because the wireless communication networks havesimply not had the capacity or capability to provide cost effective,wireless transmission of textual data. But recent advancements inwireless technology have made it possible to provide cost-effective datatransfer over existing wireless networks.

The most common means of textual communication has been e-mail, but arelatively new form of messaging called “instant messaging” (IM) hascaught on and has grown very rapidly in popularity in the last severalyears. Unlike e-mail which sits in an electronic mailbox until the userretrieves his or her e-mail messages, IM occurs nearly instantaneously,producing a notification and a dialog box on a user's screen alertingthe user that the user has an incoming message. In addition, users havethe ability to know if the recipient is on-line and available to receiveam IM message.

Many handheld, wireless devices are beginning to provide access toe-mail, but their functionality is currently very limited. The user isusually limited to browsing, that is receiving and reviewing theinformation, not authoring and sending data. Much like retrieving voicemessages from a voice mailbox, the user is only able to retrieve e-mailmessages from their e-mail in-box. The primary reason is that authoringmessages requires a convenient method of alphanumeric data entry. Usersare hesitant or reluctant to enter a message if the data entry processis slow and difficult. This is a problem that conventional devicescannot properly address due to user interface limitations, i.e., thecapabilities, design, and layout of the physical devices. While e-mailmay require entry of a moderate length message in response to a receivedmessage, such data entry usually happens at a time the user deemsappropriate and convenient, not at a time dictated by the sender of themessage. This is very much like the user being able to periodicallycheck voice messages in a voice mailbox, and respond at the user'sconvenience.

IM, however, is more real-time and intrusive than e-mail, the same waythat an incoming phone call is more real-time and intrusive thanchecking voice messages. IM is a much more frequently accessed and usedsystem than an e-mail client; therefore, IM requires a network andappliance that are much more convenient to use than an e-mail client.Such a level of convenience has been possible with wired connections anddesktop computers. With traditional desktop computers, the computer isplaced on or near the work surface and the display and keyboard areeasily accessible. The user can immediately see incoming IM messagespresented on the display, then respond to the IM messages using thekeyboard. The user does not have to remove a device from the user's beltclip or pocket and open the device to see the IM message. Neither doesthe user have to then locate a work surface for support and connect aperipheral keyboard in order to compose a response.

To be convenient for IM, a device must be able to support effortlessreading of incoming IM messages and rapid entry of responses. Suchsupport minimizes the inconvenience of the intrusion of the IM message.The device should allow a minimum amount of effort to perform the tasksinvolved when using IM. An ideal IM device requires the following uniqueand distinct features:

1. A display that is always visible. If, for example, the device musttransition from a closed state (maximum portability) to an open state(maximum usability), the display should be visible in each state. Usersare very intolerant of a device that must be opened and closed each andevery time am IM message or notification occurs. Ideally, the displayshould be large enough and have the capabilities to display both textualand graphical information, allowing for a rich presentation ofinformation;

2. A data entry means that is large enough for human hands and that isdesigned for rapid entry of moderate length alphanumeric messages;

3. An overall size which allows the device to be operated, ideally, withone or two hands, and which makes the device convenient for portableuse; and

4. A design that allows the user to quickly interact and perform minimalresponses to incoming IM messages, even if the device is in a closedstate.

In order to be appropriate for mobile use, the device should be smalland convenient to carry and use. For this reason, the features listedabove are typically mutually exclusive. There are a variety of devicesavailable that are capable of providing wireless access to textualinformation, such as mobile phones, PDA's, handheld computers, andtwo-way pagers, but the compromises in all of their designs limit theirsuitability as IM devices. For some of these devices, the displays arealways visible and easy to see, but the device lacks an input device,has a small and inappropriate input device, has a slow and error pronemethod of data entry, or requires additional peripheral devices and awork surface for support. For other devices, a suitable input device ispresent, but the device transforms between multiple states which preventthe display from being seen in one of the states, limiting theconvenience of using the device on a frequent basis.

Conventional wireless communication devices can be categorized intoseveral distinct configurations:

1. Mobile phones, commonly known as “cellular phones;”

2. Personal digital assistants, commonly referred to as PDA's;

3. Handheld computers, commonly referred to as palmtop computers; and

4. Two-way pagers.

The configuration of a mobile phone typically consists of:

1. A small display that is always visible;

2. A keypad for numeric data entry; and

3. An internal communication module that can transmit and receive analogand/or digitized voice data.

The mobile phone configuration has the following disadvantages:

1. The display is typically very small and inappropriate for display oflarge amounts of textual data. They are typically proportioned for oneor two rows of phone numbers and proper names, not textual data in thestructure of a written sentence;

2. The keypad is commonly located adjacent to the display, increasingthe overall size of the unit;

3. On some units, the device has a clamshell design that obscures boththe keypad and display when closed;

4. The keypad is typically a twelve-digit keypad designed for numericdata entry, although the keyboard usually supports alphanumericcharacter entry for the purpose of entering proper names into an addressbook maintained in the phone's memory. The commonly used method ofaccessing alphanumeric characters is to switch the device into a textentry mode, then press a key repeatedly to access a particular one of asubset of characters available for each key. This method is extremelyslow, awkward, error prone, and is not appropriate for a device intendedto transfer textual data on a regular basis; and

5. The communication module is typically engineered to support voicecommunication, and in only the latest device versions, limited retrievalof alphanumeric data.

The configuration of a PDA typically consists of:

1. A large display that is always visible;

2. A touch screen and stylus for data entry;

3. No keyboard for data entry; and

4. No internal communication module.

The PDA configuration has the following disadvantages:

1. The device has no keyboard, so alphanumeric data entry is usuallyperformed in one of two ways: (a) the user taps with a handheld styluson a “soft” keyboard that is drawn on the display, or (b) the userwrites on screen with a handheld stylus and the processor converts theuser's writing into text data;

2. An optional detachable keyboard may be available, but the keyboardusually requires a flat surface for support during use as it is tetheredto the device by a cable or attaches in such a way that it will easilybecome detached if tilted. This makes the keyboard extremely awkward foruse in one hand while on the move; and

5. The device lacks a communication module. Modules may sometimes beadded, but at the expense of consuming the port available for connectingthe optional keyboard to.

The configuration of a palmtop computer typically consists of:

1. A large display screen;

2. A complete keyboard;

3. A clamshell design where the display closes over the keyboard, or aflat layout where the display is located adjacent to the display; and

4. No internal communication module.

The palmtop configuration has the following disadvantages:

1. The clamshell design renders the display non-visible when the deviceis closed. The clamshell design affords protection to the display andkeyboard when the device is closed, but is not adequate for frequentpresentation of information to a user on the move; and

2. The relatively large size makes the device prohibitive for use as anIM device. When a large display and keyboard are present, the devicebecomes inconvenient for the user to carry on a regular basis. When thedevice dimensions are reduced to yield a more convenient size, theusability of the display and keyboard are greatly reduced.

The configuration of a two-way pager typically consists of:

1. A small display screen;

2. A small, complete keyboard; and

3. A flat layout where the keyboard is located adjacent to the display,or clamshell design where the display folds over the keyboard whenclosed.

The two-way pager configuration has the following disadvantages:

1. Units with a flat layout have displays that are always visible, butto keep the overall device size down, the display and keyboard arereduced to minuscule dimensions which greatly reduces their usability;and

2. Units with a clamshell design, render the display non-visible whenthe unit is closed, adding inconvenience when the user must look at thedisplay.

The distinction between each category of devices is blurring daily, buta trend is very evident in all the previously mentioned devices. Thedevices are either:

1. Designed primarily for voice communication and have limitedalphanumeric entry capability, or a capability that is not suited to usein your hands while on the move; or

2. Designed primarily for occasional retrieval and display of textualinformation and have a design that is very inconvenient for frequentinput and viewing of data while on the move.

The present invention is a new and improved configuration of a handheld,wireless communication device that overcomes the limitations of currenthandheld, electronic devices that serve or can be adapted to the purposeof bi-directional, wireless communication of textual information. Theappliance of the present invention is a small, electronic device thatcan be held and operated with one or two hands, in a convenient andcomfortable manner under usage conditions typically encountered with amobile phone device. In addition, the appliance is configured such thatit can be held and minimally operated in one hand. The appliance has adisplay screen, preferably color, capable of displaying textual andgraphical information, and an input device that allows rapid andcomfortable entry of alphanumeric data. The display may be protected bya cover made of either a rigid or flaccid material to afford protectionfrom damage. The cover may be of a material such as a clear plastic orrubber that allows the display to remain visible even when covered. Theappliance transitions between at least two states, each of which allowsviewing of presented data, and acknowledgement of and response toreceived messages.

One device state maintains a small footprint, whereby the deviceconsumes a minimal amount of volume and affords a greater level ofportability and concealment, hereafter called the “closed” state. Asecond device state affords a more efficient level of alphanumeric dataentry, hereafter called the “open” state. The device can transition fromthe open state to the closed state easily and with a minimum of effort,preferably with one hand. In the preferred embodiment, the appliance'sdisplay remains visible in either state, allowing the user to observeincoming messages without having to manipulate the device to transitionit from one state to another, such as from closed to open.

The appliance of the present invention comprises at least the followingcomponents:

1. An alphanumeric input device, such as a keyboard or thumbboard;

2. A display device, such as an LCD, LED, or LEP display screen;

3. A processor;

4. A power source, such as a battery or mechanical generator like awind-up spring mechanism;

5. A wireless communication module, such as a CDPD, CDMA, or GSM modem;and

6. A body consisting of at least two distinct parts—one containing thedisplay device and one containing the input device, the remainingrequired components may be located in either or both of these two parts.

In a first device configuration:

1. The display remains visible when the device is in either the open orclosed state;

2. In the closed state, the display remains visible, but obscures theinput device;

3. The display is movable such that it reveals the input device obscuredbelow the display when the device is transitioned from the closed stateto the open state; and

4. When transitioning from the closed state to the open state, thedisplay moves in one or a combination of a sliding, hinging, or pivotingmovements as illustrated in a very broad sense in FIGS. 2A-2G. In FIGS.2A-2C, an always visible display 501 translates relative to a bodyportion 503 to reveal an input device 505. In FIGS. 2D-2G, an alwaysdisplay 507 pivots relative to a body portion 509 to reveal an inputdevice 511.

In a second configuration:

1. The display remains visible when the device is in either the open orclosed state;

2. In the closed state, the display remains visible, but obscures theinput device;

3. The input device is movable such that it is revealed from below thedisplay when the device is transitioned from the closed state to theopen state; and

4. When transitioning from the closed state to the open state, the inputdevice moves in one or a combination of a sliding, hinging, or pivotingmovements as illustrated in a broad sense in FIGS. 2H-2J. In FIGS.2H-2I, an input device 513 translates into a body portion 515 whichcarries an always visible display 517.

The preferred configuration of an appliance 601 according to the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 2K-2P. FIG. 2K is a front view; FIG.2L is a rear view; FIG. 2M is a right side view; FIG. 2N is a bottomview; FIG. 2O is another front view; and FIG. 2P is another rear view ofappliance 601. In FIGS. 2K-2N, appliance 601 is shown in the closedstate in which an always visible display portion 603 conceals a novelQWERTY thumbboard 605 that is carried by a body portion 607. In FIGS. 2Oand 2P, appliance 601 is shown in an open state in which display portion603 has been translated relative to body portion 607 to revealthumbboard 605. As is best seen in FIG. 2P, display portion 603 mayinclude a plurality of rigid support rails 611 that telescope into bodyportion 607 to provide additional support of display portion 603 whileappliance 601 is in the open state. It should be understood that othersupport means, such as interlocking grooves on display portion 603 andbody portion 607 may also be used to provide additional support fordisplay portion 603. Display portion 603 is dimensioned to house aplurality of components (not shown). Such components may or may not bedirectly related to the display of images, such as a GPS antenna andintegrated circuit boards. Likewise, body portion 607 is dimensioned tohouse a plurality of electronic components and systems and necessaryintegrated circuit boards, such as the microprocessor (not shown) andcache memory 392, 394, and 396 (see FIG. 1K).

Display portion 603 includes a display screen 615. Display screen 615 ispreferably a high-resolution, 16-bit color, reflective LCD screen being320×240 pixels having a diagonal display area of about 3.8 inches. Itshould be understood that other comparable display screens may be used.Although always visible, display screen 615 will cycle down to a “powersave” mode during periods of non-use to conserve power. A cover or shade(not shown) may be utilized to protect display screen 615 from damage,to enhance visibility, to prevent glare, or to alleviate or minimizeother common problems associated with such display screens. In thepreferred embodiment, display screen 615 is covered by a protectivebezel (not shown).

Appliance 601 is powered by a portable power supply (not shown), such asbatteries. In this regard, a power supply cover 613 is provided to coverand protect the portable power supply. In the preferred embodiment, theportable power supply is rechargeable by placing appliance 601 in adocking station or charging station (not shown). Although appliance 601operates on DC current, appliance 601 may be plugged into and powered bya conventional 110-Volt wall outlet (not shown) with the use of aconventionally functioning AC to DC power transformer (not shown).

A plurality of push pads 617 are located at selected locations ondisplay portion 603. Push pads 617 are preferably located such that theuser may translate display portion 603 relative to body portion 607 bypushing on push pads 617 with his thumb or thumbs. In the preferredembodiment, display portion 603 is preferably made of rigid, moldedplastic or similar material. Body portion 607 is preferably made of asimilar material. As has become popular in recent years, display portion603 and/or body portion 607 may be partially transparent or translucent,having a colored tint. A plurality of protective bumpers 619, preferablymade of rubber or rubberized plastic, are coupled to display portion 603and body portion 607 at selected locations. A plurality of raised grips621 may be integrated into protective bumpers 619 to facilitate handlingof and interaction with appliance 601. Appliance 601 may be of modularconstruction so that a plurality of the external components may bequickly and easily interchanged. Such interchangeability allows the userto choose from a wide variety of exterior styles and designs, therebycustomizing appliance 601 to the user's particular tastes. In thismanner, the appearance of appliance 601 can be modified to suit theuser's ever changing moods and attitudes.

Appliance 601 includes a plurality of input/output devices, such asLED's 623, at least one speaker 625, a plurality of joysticks 627,conductive power terminals 629 for attachment to the docking station, aninfrared (IR) port 631 for the transfer of data, a DC adapter port 633for attachment of the power transformer, a headphone jack 635 for usewith headphone speakers, an on-off switch 637 for toggling appliancebetween an “on” state, an “off” state, and/or a “standby” state, asfurther explained herein, and an analog responder 639. Analog responder639 will be discussed in considerable detail below. It will beappreciated that LED's 623, joysticks 627, and on-off switch 637 may bemulti-functional. For instance, LED's 623 are preferably full-spectrumcolor LED's that can be selectively programmed by the user to displayselected colors at selected intensities and/or selected flashfrequencies in response to certain conditions. LED's 623 areparticularly useful when display screen 615 has cycled down into thepower save mode. This allows the user to interact with appliance 601without transitioning appliance into the open state. By using only LED's623, speaker 625, joysticks 627, IR port 631, and analog responder 639,a user can perform a considerable amount of input/output withouttransitioning appliance 601 into the open state.

Analog responder 639 is a one-dimensional, electronic touch pad disposedwithin appliance 601. Analog responder 639 is activated by the usertouching selected areas of appliance 601. Preferably, analog responder639 is disposed within and centrally located along a lower edge of bodyportion 607 closest to the user. Such location allows analog responder639 to be usable when appliance 601 is either in the closed state or theopen state, i.e., when display portion 603 is translated relative tobody portion 607. It is preferred that analog responder 639 be adjacentor in close proximity to display screen 615, because analog responder639 functions primarily to manipulate a cursor or graphical images beingdisplayed on display screen 615. The one-dimensional functionalboundaries of analog responder 639 are preferably indicated by raisedend ridges 641 or similar visual indicia. For example, one boundary maybe indicated by a “−” sign and the opposing end boundary may beindicated by a “+” sign. Such indicia are particularly useful because aprimary function of analog responder 639 is to allow the user toselectively input a response to a query from an analog range of possibleresponses. Using the current example, the end boundary indicated by the“−” might represent a negative response by the user to a query, such as“I do not like pizza;” whereas the end boundary indicated by the “+”might represent a positive response by the user to the same query, suchas “I love pizza.” In a similar fashion, analog responder 639 isvisually segmented, preferably by raised intermediate ridges 643, orsimilar visual indicia placed incrementally along the length of analogresponder 639 between end ridges 641. In the preferred embodiment,intermediate ridges 643 are more pronounced at the center 645 of analogresponder 639 and decrease in size or shape, if applicable, toward endridges 641. This allows the user to quickly determine which portion ofanalog responder 639 the user is touching, tapping, or depressing.

Analog responder 639 may be programmed for response in either an“absolute” mode or a “relative” mode. In absolute mode, locations alongthe length of analog responder 639 are directly mapped to locations ondisplay screen 615. For example, if the user touches the analogresponder at right end ridge 641, the cursor or movable graphical imagebeing displayed on display screen 615 would appear at the rightmostportion of display screen 615. On the other hand, in relative mode,locations along the length of analog responder 639 are not mappeddirectly to any specific location on display screen; rather, movementsalong analog responder 639 are programmed to provide programmed movementof a cursor or graphical image relative to the current location of thecursor or graphical image on display screen 615. For example, if theuser drags her finger along the length of analog responder 639 from theright to the left, the cursor or graphical image being displayed ondisplay screen 615 will respond by a moving from the right to the left.Absolute and relative mapping of analog responder 639 will be discussedin more detail below with respect to FIGS. 5A-5G.

Referring now to FIGS. 2Q-2S in the drawings, an alternate embodiment ofthe appliance of the present invention is illustrated. FIG. 2Q is afront view; FIG. 2R is a rear view; and FIG. 2S is a right side view ofappliance 701. As with appliance 601, appliance 701 has an alwaysvisible display portion 703 and a body portion 707. Display portion 703carries a display screen 715, similar in form and function to displayscreen 615. Display portion 703 translates relative to body portion 707to reveal a QWERTY thumbboard (not shown) which is similar in form andfunction as thumbboard 605. As is shown, appliance 701 includes similarinput/output ports and devices as appliance 601, such as LED's 723, atleast one speaker 725, a plurality of joysticks 727, and an analogresponder 739. In addition, appliance 701 includes a conventionaltwo-dimensional touch pad 729 on the backside of appliance 701. Touchpad 729 is located such that it can be utilized by the user whileappliance 701 is in either the closed state or the open state. Touch pad729 may be programmed to map to display screen 715 in either an absolutemode or a relative mode.

CLAM-SHELL HOUSING: Referring now to FIGS. 2T-2V in the drawings,another alternate embodiment of the appliance of the present inventionis illustrated. In this embodiment, an appliance 801 has a clam-shelldesign. FIG. 2T is a front view; FIG. 2U is a right side view; and FIG.2V is another front view of appliance 801. As with previously discussedembodiments, appliance 801 has an always visible display portion 803 anda body portion 807 which carries a novel QWERTY thumbboard 805. In thisembodiment, a screen display 815 on display portion 803 thumbboard 805both face outward and are on opposite sides of body portion 807 whenappliance 801 is in the closed state. As appliance 801 transitions tothe open state, display portion 803 hingedly pivots relative to bodyportion 807 as indicated by arrow 809 in FIG. 2U. In the open state,display screen 815 is adjacent to and visible above thumbboard 805. Asis shown, appliance 801 includes similar input/output ports and devicesas appliance 601, such as LED's 823, at least one speaker 825, aplurality of joysticks 827, and an analog responder 839.

SLIDEABLE KEYBOARD: Referring now to FIGS. 2W-2Z in the drawings,another alternate embodiment of the appliance of the present inventionis illustrated. In this embodiment, an appliance 901 has a telescopingdesign. FIG. 2W is a front view; FIG. 2X is a rear view; FIG. 2Y is aright side view; and FIG. 2Z is another front view of appliance 901. Aswith previously discussed embodiments, appliance 901 has an alwaysvisible display screen 915. Display screen 915 is carried by a bodyportion 907 into which a novel, two-piece QWERTY thumbboard 905 a and905 b telescopes into from opposing sides of body portion 907. As isshown, appliance 901 includes similar input/output ports and devices asappliance 601, such as LED's 923, at least one speaker 925, a pluralityof joysticks 927, and an analog responder 939. Joysticks 923 are carriedon each piece of thumbboard 905 a and 905 b.

Preferred Internal Device Hardware:

THE IDEAL DEVICE: A preferred “ideal” device may include a variety ofadditional conventional functions and features. These additionalfunctions and features, include interchangeable components, personalinformation management (PIM) functionality, and synchronizationcapabilities with other personal computing devices and desktop PC's.These additional features and functionality are limited only by theappliance's physical size, the appliance's available memory, thecapacity of network 11, the bandwidth of network 11, and the cost ofairtime.

THE INTERMEDIATE DEVICE: The preferred “intermediate device includes acombination of components, features, and functionality from both the“ideal” device and the “low-cost” device.

THE LOW-COST DEVICE: Referring now to FIG. 3A in the drawings, a blockdiagram representation of a preferred “low-cost” version of alocation-aware wireless communication appliance 1500 of the presentinvention is illustrated. As is shown, a central processing unit (CPU)1501 is provided for executing programs in the form of executableprogram instructions and data. In practice, CPU 1501 may include severalseparate processing systems, each being dedicated to a particularfunction or functions. CPU 1501 is preferably a 206-Megahertzmicroprocessor and chip set available from Intel Corporation under themodel name StrongARM. CPU 1501 has been customized for operation withappliance 1500 and network 11.

An input/output system 1503 is provided for transmitting and receivingGPS and GPRS data and information. More particularly, a GPS module 1507is carried within appliance 1500. GPS module 1507 transmits and receivesGPS data through a GPS antenna 1505. A GPRS modem module 1509 is alsocarried within appliance 1500. GPRS module transmits and receives GPRSdata and information through a GPRS antenna 1507. Appliance 1500 “knows”its location through receipt of GPS signals from GPS antenna 1505 afterprocessing by GPS module 1507. Appliance 1500 receives and transmitscommunications to network 11 utilizing a GPRS protocol over GPRS modemmodule 1509 and GPRS antenna 1507. An additional means of communicationmay be provided in the form of an IR input/output module 1510. IRinput/output module 1510 allows appliance 1500 to communicate with otherelectronic devices, such as computers or other location-aware wirelesscommunication appliances utilizing IR signals. A power management module1513 is carried within appliance 1500. Power management module 1513receives power from portable power source, such as batteries 1511 orexternal power supply 1515, and regulates and supplies power to CPU 1501and all other components of appliance 1500. Each of these input-outputsystems 1507, 1509, 1510, and 1513 is in electrical communication withcentral processing unit 1501, preferably serial communication.

A memory system 1517 is provided which includes RAM 1519, flash memory1521, programmable read-only memory (PROM) 1523, and a hardwareidentification module which holds a unique serial number for eachappliance 1500. Each of these memory systems 1519, 1521, 1523, and 1524is in electrical communication with central processing unit 1501,preferably serial communication. It should be understood that othertypes of memory modules may be utilized depending upon the desiredapplication.

A user input system 1525 is provided which includes a novel QWERTYthumbboard 1527, an analog responder 1528, joysticks 1530, and aplurality of additional input elements 1529. Thumbboard 1527 may beilluminated by a backlight 1531 to allow use in low light conditions.Thumbboard 1527 may include a touch pad which controls a graphicalpointing device or a separate touch pad may be provided (see FIG. 2R).Additional input elements 1529 include buttons or switches that areaccessible from the exterior of appliance 1500 and which control basicoperations or dedicated functions.

An output system 1533 is also provided which includes a vibratory alertmodule 1535, an always visible display screen 1537 which is driven by agraphics chip 1541, a plurality of additional display elements 1543, asound controller 1545, a digital/analog (D/A) converter 1547, and atleast one speaker 1549. Additional display elements 1543 include LED's,such as multi-functional LED's 623 (see FIG. 2K-2P). Vibratory alertmodule 1535 allows appliance 1500 to alert the user to some condition,such as the receipt of an incoming message. Display screen 1537 may beilluminated by a backlight 1539 to allow use in low light conditions.Graphics chip 1541 is provided to receive and process displayinformation from CPU 1501 and display the information on display screen1537. Additional display elements 1543 are preferably full-spectrumcolor LED's that can be selectively programmed by the user to displayselected colors at selected intensities and/or selected flashfrequencies in response to certain conditions, such as the presence orabsence of messages of a particular type. Additional display elements1543 are particularly useful when display screen 1537 has cycled downinto the power save mode. Such functionality allows the user to interactwith appliance 1500 without transitioning appliance 1500 into the openstate. Sound controller 1545 is provided for receiving instructions anddata from central processing unit 1501 and for driving D/A converter1547 which energizes speaker 1549. Sound controller 1545, D/A converter1547, and speaker 1549 allow device 1500 to generate sounds as anoutput, such as music or audio for movies or animations.

11.A.2. Analog responder: In accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the location-aware wireless communicationappliance may include a novel electronic data input apparatus. Theelectronic data input apparatus is so easy and intuitive to utilize thatthe user will be encouraged to interact with network 11 during datagathering operations. Particularly, the present invention includes anelectronic data input apparatus which facilitates the entry of data orinformation in response to digital content, including queries, or seriesof queries. The user manipulates the electronic data input apparatus anda corresponding electrical signal is generated. The electrical signal isprocessed and converted into the user's response to the digital content.FIG. 5A is a tabular representation of the preferred embodiment of anelectronic data input apparatus, or analog responder, according to thepresent invention and alternate embodiments thereof.

As is depicted in FIG. 5A, the electronic data input apparatus accordingto the present invention may exist in a variety of forms, orembodiments. In general, each embodiment is distinguished by aparticular type of input element and certain operational parameters. Atable 3001 includes a Type of Input Element column 3003, a Non-Biasingcolumn 3005, a Starting Position column 3007, a Needs On-ScreenIndicator column 3009, and a Continuous column 3011. The rows 3013,3015, 3017, 3019, 3021, 3023, 3025, 3027, 3029, and 3031 set forth thetype of input element and operational parameters for ten exemplaryembodiments of the analog responder, row 3013 representing the preferredembodiment of a one-dimensional touch pad. Type of Input Element column3003 describes the physical characteristics of each of the differentembodiments. Non-Biasing column 3005 indicates whether the particularembodiment is non-biasing, i.e., whether an initial default response ispresented to the user, with “Yes” meaning that the embodiment isnon-biasing, i.e., that the embodiment does not require, or performsbest without requiring, an initial default setting or default response;and “No” meaning that the embodiment is not non-biasing, i.e., that theembodiment does require, or performs best with, a default setting ordefault response. Starting Position column 3007 indicates whether theparticular embodiment requires a predetermined starting position, with“Yes” meaning that the embodiment does require, or performs best with, apredetermined starting position; and “No” meaning that the embodimentdoes not require, or performs best without, a predetermined startingposition. Needs On-Screen Indicator column 3009 indicates whether theparticular embodiment requires an on-screen indicator to convey thestatus of the input element to the user, with “Yes” meaning that theembodiment does require, or performs best with, an on-screen indicator;and “No” meaning that the embodiment does not require, or performs bestwithout, an on-screen indicator. Continuous column 3011 indicateswhether the input element for the particular embodiment is continuous,i.e., a single button or graphical element, with “Yes” meaning that theinput element is continuous; and “No” meaning that the input element isnot continuous, i.e., having multiple buttons or separate graphicalelements.

In table 3001 of FIG. 5A, row 3013 represents the preferred embodimentof the electronic data input apparatus: a one-dimensional touch pad. Asis shown, the one-dimensional touch pad is non-biasing, does not requirea starting position, needs no on-screen indicator, and is continuous. Afirst alternate embodiment of the input element is set forth in row3015: an elongated button. The elongated button is non-biasing, does notrequire a starting position, needs no on-screen indicator, and iscontinuous. A second alternate embodiment of the input element is setforth in row 3017: a touch screen with a graphical slider. The touchscreen with a graphical slider is non-biasing, does not require astarting position, needs an on-screen indicator, and is continuous. Athird alternate embodiment of the input element is set forth in row3019: a jog wheel. The jog wheel is not non-biasing in that an initialneutral response is presented to the user, has a neutral startingposition that is predetermined by spring biasing, needs an on-screenindicator, and is continuous. A fourth alternate embodiment of the inputelement is set forth in row 3021: a scroll wheel. The scroll wheel isnot non-biasing in that an initial neutral response is presented to theuser, does not require a starting position, needs an on-screenindicator, and is continuous. A fifth alternate embodiment of the inputelement is set forth in row 3023: a thumb wheel. The thumb wheel is notnon-biasing in that an initial neutral response is presented to theuser, does not require a predetermined starting position, needs anon-screen indicator, and is continuous. A sixth alternate embodiment ofthe input element is set forth in row 3025: a linear sliding knob. Thelinear sliding knob is not non-biasing in that an initial response ispresented to the user, does require a predetermined starting position,does not need an on-screen indicator, and is continuous. A seventhalternate embodiment of the input element is set forth in row 3027:touch screen with graphical radio buttons. The touch screen withgraphical radio buttons is non-biasing, does not require a predeterminedstarting position, does need an on-screen indicator, and is notcontinuous in that the user must choose a single response from aplurality of discreet responses. An eighth alternate embodiment of theinput element is set forth in row 3029: dedicated buttons on a keyboard.The dedicated buttons on a keyboard are non-biasing, do not require apredetermined starting position, do not require an on-screen indicator,and are not continuous in that the user must choose a single responsefrom a plurality of discreet responses. A ninth alternate embodiment ofthe input element is set forth in row 3031: two-dimensional touch pad.The two-dimensional touch pad is non-biasing, does not require apredetermined starting position, does not require an on-screenindicator, and is continuous.

Each of these embodiments of the input element will be discussed in moredetail. The preferred embodiment will be discussed with reference toFIGS. 6A-6G, and the alternate embodiments will be discussed withreference to FIGS. 7A-7I. All of the different embodiments of the inputelement produce an electrical signal that corresponds to the user'sactivation of the input element. The overall function and operation ofthe electronic data input system and apparatus is independent of theembodiment of the input element employed. As such, the overall functionand operation of the electronic data input system and apparatus will bediscussed with respect to the preferred embodiment.

ONE-DIMENSIONAL TOUCH PAD: The one-dimensional touch pad embodiment ofthe input element is the preferred embodiment of the electronic datainput apparatus. The physical characteristics of the one-dimensionaltouch pad and the overall function and operation of the electronic datainput system and apparatus are described with reference to FIGS. 6A-6G.As is shown in the view of FIG. 6A, a location-aware wirelesscommunication appliance 4001 includes an always visible display portion4003 and a body portion 4005. Display portion 4003 translates relativeto body portion 4005 to reveal a QWERTY thumbboard (not shown, butsimilar in form and function to thumbboard 605 in FIG. 2O). A displayscreen 4007 is carried by display portion 4003. Display screen 4007 ispreferably a high-resolution, 16-bit color, reflective LCD screen being320×240 pixels and having a diagonal display area of about 3.8 inches.An electronic data input apparatus, also referred to as an analogresponder, 4009 is operably associated with appliance 4001. Analogresponder 4009 is identical in form and function to analog responder 639discussed above with reference to FIGS. 2K-2P. Thus, analog responder4009 has as an input element an elongated one-dimensional touch pad 4010which is activated by the user touching designated areas of appliance4001. By “one-dimensional,” it is meant that the elongated touch pad isconfigured or digitized to capture only the longitudinal component ofany touch input, regardless of where the user actually makes contactwith the touch pad. Thus, if the user activated one-dimensional touchpad 4010 by touching in an upper right-hand location, only thelongitudinal component, and not the transverse component, of the inputwould be captured and recorded.

One-dimensional touch pad 4010 may be integral with the surface materialof body portion 4005 or may include a separate elongated digitizedelement disposed within body portion 4005. In the latter situation, thesurface material of body portion 4005 is flexibly configured to allowdepression of body portion 4005 and activation of one-dimensional touchpad 4010. Preferably, analog responder 4009 is centrally located along alower edge of body portion 4005 closest to the user. Such locationallows analog responder 4009 to be usable when appliance 4001 is eitherin the closed state or the open state, i.e., when display portion 4003is translated relative to body portion 4005. It is preferred that analogresponder 4009 be adjacent or in close proximity to display screen 4007.However, it should be understood that in certain personal computingdevice installations, such as on computer keyboards (see FIG. 8D) or asa modular add-on accessory (see FIG. 9), it may not be possible tolocate analog responder 4009 adjacent the display screen. Analogresponder 4009 functions to capture data input from the user in responseto digital content being displayed on display screen 4007. In additionto capturing touch inputs from the user in response to digital content,analog responder 4009 may manipulate a cursor or graphical images beingdisplayed on display screen 4007. The one-dimensional functionalboundaries of analog responder 4009 are preferably indicated by raisedend ridges 4011 or similar visual indicia. In a similar fashion, analogresponder 4009 is visually segmented by raised intermediate ridges 4013or similar visual indicia placed incrementally along the length ofanalog responder 4009 between end ridges 4011. In the preferredembodiment, intermediate ridges 4013 are more pronounced at a centerridge 4015 of analog responder 4009 and decrease in size or shape towardend ridges 4011. This allows the user to quickly determine which portionof analog responder 4009 the user is touching, tapping, or depressing.End ridges 4011, intermediate ridges 4013, and/or center ridge 4015 maybe of a variety of shapes, including corporate logos or trademarks, asillustrated by center ridge 4015.

Analog responder 4009 may be programmed for response in either an“absolute” mode or a “relative” mode. In absolute mode, locations alongthe length of one dimensional touch pad 4010 are directly mapped tolocations on display screen 4007. For example, if the user touches onedimensional touch pad 4010 at right end ridge 4011, the cursor ormovable graphical image being displayed on display screen 4007 wouldappear at the rightmost applicable portion of display screen 4007. Ifthe user dragged his finger back and forth from one end ridge 4011 tothe opposing end ridge 4011, the cursor would move from one extreme tothe other within its graphical boundary on display screen 4007. Forinstances when movement along one dimensional touch pad 4010 manipulatesa graphical image of an animation, if the user dragged his finger backand forth from one end ridge 4011 to the opposing end ridge 4011, thegraphical image or animation would respond by displaying all of theframes of the scenes or frames of the graphical image or animation. Theabsolute mode helps make analog responder 4009 be non-biasing, asexplained below.

On the other hand, in relative mode, locations along the length of onedimensional touch pad 4010 are not mapped directly to any specificlocation on display screen 4007; rather, movement along one dimensionaltouch pad 4010 is programmed to provide movement of a cursor orgraphical image relative to their current location on display screen4007. For example, if the user drags her finger along the length of onedimensional touch pad 4010 in a direction from right to left, the cursorof graphical image being displayed on display screen 4007 will respondby a moving in a direction right to left. In the preferred embodiment,if, while responding to a query, the user removes her finger from onedimensional touch pad 4010, the cursor remains stationary on displayscreen 4007 until the user repositions her finger on one dimensionaltouch pad 4010 and begins movement again, whereupon the cursor againtracks the movement of the user's finger along one dimensional touch pad4010.

In operation and as is shown in the view of FIG. 6B, a text message 4017may be displayed on display screen 4007 to gain the user's attention.The user's attention may also be requested by an audio announcementthrough a speaker 4019, or by the illumination of LED's 4021. Next, asis depicted in the view of FIG. 6C, digital content, in this case, aquery 4023 is displayed. In the present example, query 4023 is displayedin text form. However, it should be understood that query 4023 may bepresented in textual form, graphical form, audio form, or anycombination thereof. Also, as explained below, it is not necessary thata query be presented to the user. In such instances, analog responder4009 is used to directly capture the user's opinion of digital contentbeing displayed on display screen 4007. Continuing with the presentexample, query 4023 asks a particular question: “Do you like to hang outat coffee bars?”. Next, as is shown in the view of FIG. 6D, a graphicalelement 4025 is displayed on display screen 4007 in close physicalproximity to query 4023. Graphical element 4025 defines an elongatedactive element 4027 having boundary text or other indicia 4029 displayedin close proximity that provides a qualitative or quantitative metricwhich allows the user to input a scaled response to the digital content,in this case, query 4023. In the present example, the scaling textmessages 4031 and 4033 allow the user to select a response to query 4023within an analog range established by the quantitative or qualitativeboundaries established or associated therewith. It is important to notethat the user does not have to choose from a limited set of discreetresponses.

In the present example, the user's response to query 4023 may range from“Hate 'em,” as depicted by scaling text message 4031 to “Love 'em,” asdepicted by scaling text message 4033. In the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the operation of analog responder 4009 isnon-biasing. This means that there is no “default” or initial responsefrom which the user begins to make his response. Such default responses,even if presented as a “neutral” response, can affect how the userresponds to the digital content. To record a response to query 4023, theuser taps, touches, or drags her finger along one-dimensional touch pad4010 in an manner which activates a movable, graphical shuttle element4035 in a desired location between the boundaries established by scalingtext messages 4031 and 4033. To maintain the non-biasing nature ofone-dimensional touch pad 4010, it is preferred that graphical shuttleelement 4035 does not appear on graphical element 4025 until the usermakes contact with one-dimensional touch pad 4010. In this manner, theuser's response to the digital content, in this case query 4023 aboutcoffee bars, is not influenced by a default or initial responsecondition. As the user moves her finger along one-dimensional touch pad4010 from left end ridge 4011 to the right end ridge 4011, graphicalshuttle element 4035 moves correspondingly from scaling text message4031 to scaling text message 4033. This is possible because graphicalelement 4025 is mapped to the available quantitative or quantitativerange of values for an acceptable response. Such mapping may be eitherabsolute or relative, depending on the desired application and response.In the preferred embodiment, when the user releases her finger fromone-dimensional touch pad 4010, analog responder 4009 generates acorresponding electrical signal which is captured and recorded inappliance 4001.

From the user's perspective, graphical element 4025 is very easy to useand may be manipulated with easy motions. In this manner, network 11 mayobtain a reasonably accurate response, opinion, or rating from the userof the digital content with only a minimum of intrusion into the user'sexperience. FIG. 6E depicts graphical element 4025 after graphicalshuttle element 4035 has been moved by the user. From the position ofshuttle element 4035, it is clear that the user “favors” or “likes”hanging out in coffee bars, but the user does not “love” hanging out inthem. More importantly, this preference information, or rating, has beenobtained easily and quickly.

Referring now to FIGS. 6F and 6G in the drawings, alternate embodimentsof graphical element 4025 are illustrated. In FIG. 6F, graphical element4025 having elongated active element 4027 and movable shuttle element4035 of FIGS. 6A-6E have been replaced by scaling graphical message4041. Scaling graphical message 4041 is a continuous series of graphicalimages of a human hand in poses ranging from “thumbs down” 4041 a to“thumbs up” 4041 b. In FIG. 6F, although both extreme boundaryconditions of thumbs down 4041 a and thumbs up 4041 b are shown forclarity, in actual operation, only one continuously changing view ofscaling graphical message 4041 would be shown. In the example of FIG.6F, boundary text or other indicia 4029 are not necessary, becausescaling graphical message 4041 is inherently defined by common usage. Aswith the example of FIGS. 6A-6E, scaling graphical element 4041 isdisplayed in close proximity to the digital content, in this instance,query 4023. In response to query 4023, the user activatesone-dimensional touch pad 4010 in an appropriate fashion. As the usermoves her finger back and forth along the length of one-dimensionaltouch pad 4010, scaling graphical message 4041 transitions or animatesback and forth from thumbs down 4041 a to thumbs up 4041 b, therebyproviding a qualitative or quantitative metric corresponding to theuser's scaled response to query 4023. In this example, scaling graphicalmessage 4041 allows the user to select a response to query 4023 withinan analog range established by the quantitative or qualitativeboundaries established or associated therewith.

In FIG. 6G, scaling graphical message 4041 has been replaced withscaling graphical message 4051. Scaling graphical message 4051 functionssimilarly to scaling graphical message 4041, with the exception thatinstead of ranging from thumbs down 4041 a to thumbs up 4041 b, scalinggraphical message 4051 continuously ranges from a “frowning face” 4051 ato a “smiling face” 4051 b. It should be understood that a large varietyof such images may be utilized as scaling graphical images due to theircommon use in public and the inherent message that is conveyed when theyare viewed. It will be appreciated that the same preference informationcan be captured whether the user responds by manipulating a scaling textmessage or a scaling graphical message.

In some instances, analog responder 4009 is used to capture a responsefrom the user to digital content being displayed on display screen 4007,but does not manipulate any textual or graphical image being displayed.For example, while digital content in the form of a movie is beingdisplayed on display screen 4007, the user might touch one-dimensionaltouch pad 4010 at a selected location which indicates that the user isenjoying the movie, i.e., near the right end ridge 4011. In this manner,analog responder 4009 is used to capture the user's opinion or rating ofthe digital content without the use of any on-screen indicator asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 5A.

Regardless of the manner in which the preference information is obtainedfrom the user's interaction with analog responder 4009, or whichembodiment of the input element is employed, the preference informationcan be captured, recorded, stored, maintained, and used for many usefuland valuable purposes. For example, this user initiated preferenceinformation may be used to update the user's contextual user profile,thereby affecting the probability that the same digital content will beoffered again for presentation to the user, or the probability thatrelated digital content will be offered for presentation to the user.This preference information may also be used by service provider toperform or infer referential preferences as explained above. In thismanner, one user's responses may have an affect or impact upon othermembers' experiences, thereby expanding network 11 and creatingcommunity.

ELONGATED BUTTON: Referring now to FIG. 7A in the drawings, thealternate embodiment of the electronic data input apparatus in which theinput element is an elongated button is illustrated. An appliance 5101has a body portion 5103 and a display portion 5105. A screen display5107 is carried by display portion 5105. An electronic data inputapparatus 5109 includes an input element in the form of an elongatedbutton 5110. Elongated button 5110 is spring biased by a biasing means,such as a plurality of springs 5111, into a position that is away frombody portion 5103. This clearance is exaggerated in FIG. 7A for clarity.It should be understood that elongated button 5110 may be biased byother conventional means employed to bias keys and buttons into staticstart positions. Elongated button 5110 may be either rigid, such that asthe user depresses elongated button 5110 at a selected location,elongated button 5110 generates a corresponding electrical signal; orelongated button 5110 may be a flexible button, such that as elongatedbutton 5110 is depressed at a selected location, elongated button 5110deforms inwardly at the selected location and generates a correspondingelectrical signal.

TOUCH SCREEN WITH GRAPHICAL SLIDER: Referring now to FIG. 7B in thedrawings, the alternate embodiment of the electronic data inputapparatus in which the input element is a touch screen with graphicalslider is illustrated. An appliance 5201 has a body portion 5203 and adisplay portion 5205. A screen display 5207 is carried by displayportion 5205. An electronic data input apparatus 5209 includes an inputelement in the form of a touch screen with graphical slider 5210. Touchscreen with graphical slider 5210 is a digitized touch screen 5211 whichmay integrated into screen display 5207 if screen display 5207 is adigitized touch screen, or may be separate from screen display 5207 ifscreen display 5207 is not a digitized touch screen. Touch screen withgraphical slider 5210 includes a graphical shuttle element 5212 that isoperably associated with a graphical slider element 5214. Upon thepresentation of digital content, graphical slider element 5214 isdisplayed on digitized touch screen 5211. The user activates touchscreen with graphical slider 5110 by touching graphical slider element5214 with her finger, a light pen, or a stylus. It is preferred thatgraphical shuttle element 5212 not be displayed until the user makes aninitial contact with digitized touch screen 5211. This preserves thenon-biasing feature of touch screen with graphical slider 5210, in thatno default or starting condition is displayed that might influence theuser's response. After the user makes initial contact with digitizedtouch screen 5211, her motions in the directions of arrow 5213 alonggraphical slider element 5214 are tracked by graphical shuttle element5212. When the user releases her finger, the light pen, or the stylus,the location of graphical shuttle element 5212 with relation tographical slider element 5214 is recorded and a corresponding electricalsignal is generated. The user may also record her response by touching aseparate designated portion of digitized touch screen 5211. In thismanner, the user's response or rating of the digital content isobtained.

JOG WHEEL: Referring now to FIG. 7C in the drawings, the alternateembodiment of the electronic input apparatus in which the input elementis a jog wheel is illustrated. An appliance 5301 has a body portion 5303and a display portion 5305. A screen display 5307 is carried by displayportion 5305. An electronic data input apparatus 5309 includes an inputelement in the form of a jog wheel 5310 which rotates in a planeparallel with screen display 5307. In a typical installation, jog wheel5310 is spring biased toward a center, or neutral, position. Jog wheel5310 has a recessed area 5312 with which the user may rotate jog wheel5310 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction as indicatedby arrow 5313 to input his response to digital content. In thisembodiment, clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of jog wheel 5310is equivalent to back and forth movement of the user's finger uponone-dimensional touch pad 4010. As the user rotates jog wheel 5310, anon-screen indicator (not shown, but similar to the on-screen indicatorsdiscussed above with reference to FIGS. 6A-6G) is manipulated to allowthe user track his response. Once the user has selected his response asindicated by the on-screen indicator, he records his response byclicking down on jog wheel 5310, leaving jog wheel 5310 in a specificposition for a predetermined amount of time, or by any other appropriatemeans. When the user selects his response, a corresponding electricalsignal is generated by jog wheel 5310. It should be understood that jogwheel 5310 may be non-biased so that there is no default start or trimposition.

SCROLL WHEEL: Referring now to FIG. 7D in the drawings, the alternateembodiment of the electronic input apparatus in which the input elementis a scroll wheel is illustrated. An appliance 5401 has a body portion5403 and a display portion 5405. A screen display 5407 is carried bydisplay portion 5405. An electronic data input apparatus 5409 includesan input element in the form of a scroll wheel 5410 which rotates in aplane parallel with screen display 5407. As opposed to jog wheel 5310,scroll wheel 5410 is not spring biased in any start or default position.Scroll wheel 5410 has a knurled edge 5412 with which the user rotatesscroll wheel 5410 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise directionas indicated by arrow 5413 to input his response to digital content. Inthis embodiment, clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of scrollwheel 5410 is equivalent to back and forth movement of the user's fingeron one-dimensional touch pad 4010. As the user rotates scroll wheel5410, an on-screen indicator (not shown, but similar to the on-screenindicators discussed above with reference to FIGS. 6A-6G) is manipulatedto allow the user track his response. Once the user has selected hisresponse as indicated by the on-screen indicator, he records hisresponse by clicking inward on scroll wheel 5410, leaving scroll wheel5410 in a specific position for a predetermined amount of time, or byany other appropriate means. When the user selects his response, acorresponding electrical signal is generated by scroll wheel 5410. Itshould be understood that scroll wheel 5410 may be spring biased so thatthere is a default start or trim position.

THUMB WHEEL: Referring now to FIG. 7E in the drawings, the alternateembodiment of the electronic input apparatus in which the input elementis a thumb wheel is illustrated. An appliance 5501 has a body portion5503 and a display portion 5505. A screen display 5507 is carried bydisplay portion 5505. An electronic data input apparatus 5509 includesan input element in the form of a thumb wheel 5510 which rotates in aplane perpendicular with screen display 5507. As with scroll wheel 5410,thumb wheel 5510 is not spring biased toward a start or defaultposition. Thumb wheel 5510 has a knurled edge 5512 with which the userrotates thumb wheel 5510 in either a forward or reverse direction asindicated by arrow 5513 to input her response to digital content. Inthis embodiment, forward and reverse rotation of thumb wheel 5510 isequivalent to back and forth movement of the user's finger uponone-dimensional touch pad 4010. As the user rotates thumb wheel 5510, anon-screen indicator (not shown, but similar to the on-screen indicatorsdiscussed above with reference to FIGS. 6A-6G) is manipulated to allowthe user track her response. Once the user has selected her response asindicated by the on-screen indicator, she records her response byclicking inward on thumb wheel 5510, leaving thumb wheel 5510 in aspecific position for a predetermined amount of time, or by any otherappropriate means. When the user selects her response, a correspondingelectrical signal is generated by thumb wheel 5510. It should beunderstood that thumb wheel 5510 may be spring biased so that there is adefault start or trim position.

LINEAR SLIDING KNOB: Referring now to FIG. 7F in the drawings, thealternate embodiment of the electronic input apparatus in which theinput element is a linear sliding knob is illustrated. An appliance 5601has a body portion 5603 and a display portion 5605. A screen display5607 is carried by display portion 5605. An electronic data inputapparatus 5609 includes an input element in the form of a linear slidingknob 5610 which translates in a plane parallel with screen display 5607.Linear sliding knob 5610 is preferably a linear potentiometer. The usertranslates linear sliding knob 5610 in a back and forth direction asindicated by arrow 5613 to input her response to digital content. Inthis embodiment, back and forth translation of linear sliding knob 5610is equivalent to back and forth movement of the user's finger onone-dimensional touch pad 4010. In this embodiment, no on-screenindicator is necessary for the user to track her response because therelative location of linear sliding knob 5610 is indicative of theuser's response. Once the user has selected her response, she recordsher response by clicking inward on linear sliding knob 5610, leavinglinear sliding knob 5610 in a specific position for a predeterminedamount of time, or by any other appropriate means. When the user selectsher response, a corresponding electrical signal is generated by linearsliding knob 5610. It should be understood that linear sliding knob 5610may be spring biased so that there is a default start or trim position.

TOUCH SCREEN WITH GRAPHICAL RADIO BUTTONS: Referring now to FIG. 7G inthe drawings, the alternate embodiment of the electronic data inputapparatus in which the input element is a touch screen with graphicalradio buttons is illustrated. An appliance 5701 has a body portion 5703and a display portion 5705. A screen display 5707 is carried by displayportion 5705. An electronic data input apparatus 5709 includes an inputelement in the form of a touch screen with graphical radio buttons 5710.Touch screen with graphical radio buttons 5710 is a digitized touchscreen 5711 which may integrated into screen display 5707 if screendisplay 5707 is a digitized touch screen, or may be separate from screendisplay 5707 if screen display 5707 is not a digitized touch screen.Touch screen with graphical radio buttons 5710 includes a plurality ofgraphical radio buttons 5712. Upon the presentation of digital content,graphical radio buttons 5712 are displayed on digitized touch screen5711. The user activates touch screen with graphical radio buttons 5710by touching individual graphical radio buttons 5712 with her finger, alight pen, or a stylus. It is preferred that only a single radio button5712 be selected at a time, but it should be understood that certainapplications may allow the user to select a plurality of radio buttons5712. After the user makes initial contact with digitized touch screen5711, her selections are tracked by graphical radio buttons 5712. If theuser continues to touch a particular radio button 5712, that radiobutton 5712 toggles between selected and unselected. Once the user hasselected her response, she records her response by touching a designatedportion of digitized touch screen 5711, leaving touch screen withgraphical radio buttons 5710 in a selected state for a predeterminedamount of time, or by any other appropriate means. After the user makesher selections, the selected radio buttons 5712 are recorded andcorresponding electrical signals are generated. In this manner, theuser's response or rating of the digital content is obtained.

DEDICATED BUTTONS: Referring now to FIG. 7H in the drawings, thealternate embodiment of the electronic data input apparatus in which theinput element is a bank of dedicated buttons is illustrated. Anappliance 5801 has a body portion 5803 and a display portion 5805. Ascreen display 5807 is carried by display portion 5805. An electronicdata input apparatus 5809 includes an input element in the form of abank of dedicated buttons 5810. Bank of dedicated buttons 5810 mayintegrated into an existing thumbboard or keyboard (see FIG. 2O), or maybe a separate bank of buttons. Bank of dedicated buttons 5810 includes aplurality of electro-mechanical buttons 5812. It is preferred thatdedicated buttons be spring biased into an un-depressed position. Theuser activates bank of dedicated buttons 5810 by depressing individualdedicated buttons 5812 a predetermined distance in response to digitalcontent displayed on screen display 5807. If the user continues todepress a particular dedicated button 5812, that dedicated button 5812toggles between selected and unselected. In addition, it is preferredthat if the user depresses a second dedicated button, the firstdepressed dedicated button 5812 becomes unselected. Once the user hasselected her response, she records her response by leaving bank ofdedicated buttons 5810 in a selected state for a predetermined amount oftime, or by any other appropriate means. After the user makes herselections, the selected dedicated button 5812 is recorded and acorresponding electrical signal is generated. In this manner, the user'sresponse or rating of the digital content is obtained.

TWO-DIMENSIONAL TOUCH PAD: Referring now to FIG. 7I in the drawings, thealternate embodiment of the electronic data input apparatus in which theinput element is a two-dimensional touch pad is illustrated. Anappliance 5901 has a body portion 5903 and a display portion 5905. Ascreen display 5907 is carried by display portion 5905. An electronicdata input apparatus 5909 includes an input element in the form of atwo-dimensional touch pad 5910. Two-dimensional touch pad 5910 isconfigured and functions similar to one-dimensional touch pad 4010. Assuch, two-dimensional touch pad 5910 may be integral with the surfacematerial of body portion 5905 or may include a separate digitizedelement disposed within body portion 5905. In the latter situation, thesurface material of body portion 5905 is flexibly configured to allowdepression of body portion 5905 and activation of two-dimensional touchpad 5910. By “two-dimensional,” it is meant that the touch pad isconfigured or digitized to capture both the longitudinal component alongan X-axis and the transverse component along a Y-axis of any touchinput. Thus, if the user activated two-dimensional touch pad 5910 bytouching in an upper right-hand location, both the longitudinalcomponent along the X-axis and the transverse component along the Y-axisof the input would be captured and recorded. Just as withone-dimensional touch pad 4010, two-dimensional touch pad 5910 does notrequire an on-screen indicator for the user to respond to or ratedigital content displayed on screen display 5907.

With two-dimensional touch pad 5910, more responses or parameters may berecorded with a single response input from the user, wherein thelocation along the X-axis represents one response or parameter, and thelocation along the Y-axis represents another response or parameter. Forexample, if a particular digital content is a query about coffee bars, auser would have the capability of not only indicating her level ofappreciation for coffee bars, but the time of day that she most likes tohang out there. In this example, the user's appreciation of coffee barsmight be entered by activating two-dimensional touch pad 5910 along theX-axis, while the user's favorite time of day to spend time in coffeebars might be entered by the user's selection along the Y-axis.Two-dimensional touch pad may include raised ridges 5913 or other visualindicia to aid the user in spatially locating her response. As withone-dimensional touch pad 4010, two-dimensional touch pad 5910 may beprogrammed to function in either an absolute mode or a relative mode. Itis preferred that when the user releases her finger from two-dimensionaltouch pad 5910, the user's response is captured and recorded inappliance 5901.

Utilizing Analog Responder in Other Personal Computing Devices:

ANALOG RESPONDER INTEGRATED INTO DEVICE: Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8E inthe drawings, the electronic data input system and apparatus accordingto the present invention is illustrated shown being utilized on avariety of personal computing devices. In FIG. 8A, a palmtop computer5001 of clamshell design has a body portion 5003 and a display portion5005. Body portion 5003 has a keyboard 5007 and display portion 5005 hasa display screen 5009. An electronic data input apparatus, or analogresponder, 5011 according to the present invention is operablyassociated body portion 5003. This allows palmtop computer 5001 tocapture analog responses, inputs, and/or ratings to digital content,such as queries.

In FIG. 8B, a wireless phone 5031 has a body portion 5033 and a displayscreen 5035. Body portion 5033 has a key pad 5037. An analog responder5039 according to the present invention is operably associated with bodyportion 5033. As is shown, a plurality of scaling graphical messages5041 may be displayed on display screen 5035, whereby the user may inputan analog response to certain queries, such as ring tone, displaybrightness, and ring volume. Scaling graphical messages 5041 arecommonly used graphical images that inherently indicate the status ofwireless phone 5031.

In FIG. 8C, a notebook computer 5051 of clamshell design has a bodyportion 5053 and a display portion 5055. Body portion 5053 has akeyboard 5057 and a conventional touch pad 5059. Display portion 5055has a display screen 5061. An analog responder 5063 according to thepresent invention is disposed within display portion 5055. As is shown,a scaling graphical element 5065 is displayed on display screen 5061.This embodiment illustrates that analog responder 5063 may be disposedanywhere on a personal computing device that is convenient for the userto operate. This embodiment also illustrates that the analog responderof the present invention may be utilized on a personal computing devicethat has other touch pads or similar input devices. Analog responder5063 allows notebook computer 5051 to capture analog responses or inputsto queries or other outputs.

In FIG. 8D, a traditional keyboard 5071 has been modified by theaddition of an analog responder according to the present invention. Inthis embodiment, an analog responder 5073 is operably associated withkeyboard 5071. This embodiment is particularly useful when users accessnetwork 11 over their personal computers, as opposed to a location-awarewireless communication appliance.

In FIG. 8E, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 5081 has a body portion5083 and a display screen 5085. Body portion 5083 has no keyboard, butdoes have a plurality of input buttons 5087. Display screen 5085 is atouch screen so that the user may input data into PDA 5081 with herfingers, or by the use of a stylus or light pen. An analog responder5089 has been operably associated with body portion 5083. Analogresponder may be either an independent component, or may be integratedinto touch screen 5085. In this manner, analog responder 5089 allows PDA5081 to capture analog responses or inputs to queries or other digitalcontent.

ANALOG RESPONDER AS AN EXPANSION MODULE: Referring now to FIG. 9 in thedrawings, an alternate embodiment of the analog responder according tothe present invention is illustrated. A PDA 6001, or other personalcomputing device, is shown in a rear perspective view. PDA 6001 includesan accessory port 6003, usually of proprietary design. In thisembodiment, an analog responder 6005 is operably associated with anexpansion module 6007 that plugs into accessory port 6003 of PDA 6001.Expansion module 6007 may include other components that are present in alocation-aware wireless communication appliance of the presentinvention, such as a GPS antenna 6009. In this manner, a conventionalPDA can be converted into a device having the same or comparablefunctionality of a location-aware wireless communication applianceaccording to the present invention.

Although only the one-dimensional touch pad embodiment of the inputelement of electronic data input system and apparatus of the presentinvention has been illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8E and FIG. 9, it should beunderstood that any of the alternate embodiments of the input elementwhich are illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7I may be used in these installationsand applications. In addition, the electronic data input system andapparatus of the present invention may also be used with wearablepersonal computing devices.

11.B. Software: In accordance with the preferred implementation of thepreferred invention, operating system 1575 is excessively user-centric.As such, the weight or value associated with interrupts generatedthrough user manipulation of appliance 1500, whether through thumbboard1527, analog responder 1528, joysticks 1530, or additional inputelements 1529, is of the highest priority. Accordingly, other operationsmay be aborted or suspended in order to execute, on a priority basis,certain commands associated with a user interrupt.

SEPARATE THREAD FOR MONITORING USER ACTION: Preferably, such action isaccomplished by providing a separate, dedicated thread for monitoringuser commands, actions, and/or input. This user-initiated processingthread is accorded a greater priority relative to most other processingthreads. In this manner, the user has a substantial impact on theoperating system through manipulation of thumbboard 1527, analogresponder 1528, joysticks 1530, and additional input elements 1529. Theuser never has to wait to take control of the appliance and/or theoperating system.

USER IMPACT ON OPERATING PROCESSES: All systems are de-escalated tolower priority when the user is interacting with the appliance.

12. User

12.A. Operational empathy: In the preferred implementation of thepresent invention, network 11 monitors its own operation in a mannerwhich allows appliances, such as appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, and361, to communicate empathetic messages to the user when network 11 isoperating in a manner which may be frustrating to the user. For example,network 11 traffic may be so heavy that there is substantial delay incommunications such as the transmission of e-mails or the ability toengage in real-time chat communications. In accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, appliances 351, 353, 355,357, 359, and 361 will communicate to the user an awareness of a networkproblem which can be frustrating to the user. This may mitigate theuser's frustration.

DEVICE AWARENESS: In accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, appliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, and 361 includemonitoring software to aid in determining whether empathetic actionshould be implemented.

USER COMPENSATION/INCENTIVES: Alternatively, network 11 may actuallycompensate the user in some manner for the frustration experienced dueto network problems, such as a network being down or heavy traffic onthe network. Such compensation may take many forms, such as dispensingnetwork energy to the user as a direct compensation for frustrationexperienced due to operational difficulties of network 11. Alternativeincentives or compensation may be provided to the user in the form ofdigital content, such as merchant coupons which may be consumed by theuser. For example, digital content in the form of a program or game maybe presented to the user as a form of compensation for some type offrustration experienced due to network problems. The following areparticular examples of how the device manifests a “awareness” of networkproblems and manages the user's frustration through highlyanthropomorphic empathy which may be communicated through dialog andother interaction with the user. Additionally, particular types ofcompensation or incentive for network problems will also be discussed.

12.B. Expectation management: In general, network 11 and appliances 351,353, 355, 357, 359, and 361 of the present invention may also beutilized to manage user expectations in general. This goes beyondmanagement of frustration. Expectation management can be utilized inorder to encourage the development of community around appliances 351,353, 355, 357, 359, and 361 and network 11. The utilization ofexpectation management may be a powerful means to allow the users tobecome involved in the development of consumable digital content. Thereare examples in the history of consumer electronics in which theexistence of a “community” around an electronic appliance acceleratedthe adoption of such devices. One noteworthy example is Apple Computerwhich developed a very loyal community around its personal computingproducts. Another example is the “Palm Pilot” device which wasintroduced by 3COM. A community developed around this device andhundreds or thousands of applications were written which are availablethrough publications or over the internet free of charge. Theseapplications greatly enhance the utility of the device. Essentially, thecommunity of users become an informal development team for newapplications. Management of expectations can be utilized to acceleratethe development of community and digital content which may be consumedby the community. Incentives, including the offering of network energymay be utilized to accelerate the development of community aroundappliances 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, and 361 and network 11.

13. Network Energy

Referring now to FIG. 4A in the drawings, the broad concepts of thepreferred embodiment of the network community and network currency ofthe present invention are depicted in block diagram format. Inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, anetwork currency is created and utilized to fund the operation ofnetwork 11, the distribution of location-aware wireless communicationappliances to new users, or members, the creation of digital content,and the dissemination of digital content through network 11. This is auseful approach, because, in the first commercial instance of thepresent invention, the members are likely to be adolescents who may havelittle or no income other than family allowances. In accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the appliances aredistributed to the members free of charge under a sponsorshiparrangement with one or more network affiliates. Sponsoring networkaffiliates purchase the appliances to generate goodwill and customerloyalty with the adolescent network members. Additionally, one or morenetwork affiliates may also sponsor, for particular members or groups ofmembers, certain amounts of network air time. The air time can be usedby the members to engage in communication or the consumption of digitalcontent, such as reading stories, viewing movies, or engaging in gameactivities. The service provider which operates and maintains network 11is responsible for distributing the appliances and any air timepurchased by sponsors for the benefit of particular members or groups ofmembers.

As is shown, a service provider 2001 is in charge of operating andmaintaining network 11. In this capacity, service provider 2001 operatesand maintains a network treasury 2041 and a network energy market 2043.Accordingly, service provider 2001 performs numerous accounting,tracking, and distribution functions. Network energy market 2043 issupplied with valuable commodities from a plurality of sources. Thesources of commodities include: network affiliates 2003, networkmerchants 2005, and network members 2007. There may be hundreds ofnetwork affiliates 2003, such as Network Affiliate #1, Network Affiliate#2, up to Network Affiliate #N, which are identified by referencenumerals 2009, 2011, and 2013, respectively. Additionally, there may bethousands of network merchants 2005, such as Merchant #1, Merchant #2,up to Merchant #N, which are identified by reference numerals 2015,2017, and 2019, respectively. There may be millions of members 2007spread throughout the country, such as Member #1, Member #2, up toMember #N, which are identified by reference numerals 2021, 2023, and2025, respectively. Each of the network affiliates 2003, merchants 2005,and members 2007 has an account 2061 which is set up, operated, andmaintained by service provider 2001.

The commodities may be categorized into different types, including cash2027, credit 2029, equity 2031, goods 2033, services 2035,infrastructure elements 2037, or digital content, such as shareware GUI2079, game 2081, and text content 2083. Service provider 2001accumulates, organizes, and assigns values to the commodities, whichhave varying degrees of liquidity. This process is represented bynetwork market input 2045. Service provider 2001 then introduces thecommodities into network energy market 2043. The commodities aretransformed into either network energy 2049 or location-awarecommunication appliances 2053. This process is represented by networkmarket output 2047. Network energy 2049 becomes available under certainconditions for consumption, distribution, and use by network affiliates2003, merchants 2005, and/or members 2007. Appliances 2053 aredistributed under certain conditions to new members 2051. Network energy2049 may also be distributed to new members 2051. Each new member 2051has an account 2055 which is operated and maintained by service provider2001. Service provider 2001 also manages books of account 2057 whichrelate to the operation of network energy market 2043 and the valuation,allocation, and distribution of network energy 2049 and appliances 2053.As is shown, some network energy 2049 may be directed back to thesources that provided the commodities for network market input 2045 tonetwork energy market 2043.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 4A, accounts 2057, 2055, and 2061generally track the transactions made in network energy market 2043. Inpractice, network market input 2045, which is the cumulative value ofthe commodities contributed by the sources and introduced into networkenergy market 2043 by network treasury 2041, should equal network marketoutput 2047, which is the cumulative value of network energy 2049 andappliances 2053 released from network treasury 2041. Thus, for purposesof simplification, appliances 2053 may have a value which is not interms of dollars or other national currencies, but rather in terms ofnetwork energy 2049. In this manner, a balance can be obtained betweenservice provider 2001, network affiliates 2003, merchants 2005, members2007, and new members 2051 in a closed-loop environment in whichconsumption and production of network energy 2049 is closely controlled,monitored, and maintained by service provider 2001 acting as a treasurerfor network 11.

In certain instances, network energy 2049 may be transferred directlyfrom a source, i.e., network affiliates 2003, merchants 2005, or members2007, to either other members 2007 or new members 2051. Such transfersare an alternative to the direct supply of network energy 2049 byservice provider 2001. Although such transactions may not involveservice provider 2001 or network energy market 2043, the transactionsare recorded in accounts 2061 and 2055, thereby maintaining the balanceof network energy 2049 within network 11.

In accordance with the preferred implementation of the present inventionthere are a variety of ways in which network energy 2049 may expended orconsumed. Such activity is referred to herein as “burning” networkenergy 2049. Alternatively, there are a variety of ways in which networkenergy 2049 may be acquired or accumulated. Such activity is referred toherein as “earning” network energy 2049. As mentioned above, a balancecan be obtained between service provider 2001, network affiliates 2003,merchants 2005, members 2007, and new members 2051 in a closed-loopenvironment. An equilibrium can be established which can be moderated ormodulated by service provider 2001 to encourage or discourage growth ofnetwork 11. This is comparable to the monetary policies of the FederalReserve, which through its actions, can regulate the supply of availablemoney to the market, resulting in a “heating” or “cooling” impact on theeconomy in general. It is necessary for the success of service provider2001 that a relationship exist between network energy 2049 and nationalcurrency. Of course, as interest in network 11 fluctuates, therelationship between network energy 2049 and national currency will alsofluctuate.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT: Network 11 and service provider 2001 manage the“earning” and “burning” of network energy.

EARNING NETWORK ENERGY: There are a variety of ways in which networkenergy 2049 may be “earned” in accordance with the preferred embodimentof the present invention. Several of the primary methods of earningnetwork energy 2049 will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 4B-4D.

PURCHASING ENERGY: The easiest way to obtain network energy 2049 is todirectly purchase network energy 2049 with one or more nationalcurrencies. It should be understood that an exchange rate willestablished and maintained between network energy 2049 and selectednational currencies, such as U.S. dollars, Euros, or Canadian dollars.Members may purchase network energy in the form of air time either inadvance on a prepaid basis, or after charges have been incurred, ifdeemed creditworthy. Service provider 2001 generates periodic statementswhich reflect the amount of network energy earned and burned during theperiod for each network affiliate 2003, merchant 2005, member 2007, andnew member 2051. The statements are then communicated to the networkaffiliates 2003, merchants 2005, members 2007, and new members 2051 forpayment or advance payment.

EARNING ENERGY THROUGH POSTING OF DIGITAL CONTENT: One interesting wayto “earn” network energy 2049 in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention is to generate and contributedigital content to network 11, preferably through the posting of digitalcontent onto a publicly-available digital content site, such as abulletin board 2077 (see FIG. 4B). Bulletin board 2077 may be accessiblevia the Internet, but may only be accessible via location-aware wirelesscommunication appliances, such as appliances 2053. The bandwidthassociated with GPRS communication is relatively narrow in comparison tothe bandwidth of a relatively good wired/landline Internet connection.However, some digital content may be downloaded “over the air.” Thisscenario is depicted in FIG. 4B, in which Member #1, Member #2 up toMember #N, generate and post a variety of digital content to bulletinboard 2077. Member #1 has generated a shareware graphical user interface(GUI) 2079; Member #2 has generated a game 2081; and Member #N hasgenerated text content 2083, such as an article or short story. Acontent evaluator 2085 performs Analysis #1, Analysis #2, and Analysis#N, represented by reference numerals 2087, 2089, and 2091,respectively, on the posted digital content and determines a relativevalue for the digital content in terms of network energy 2049. Contentevaluator 2085 is either under the control of service provider 2001, orunder the combined control of service provider 2001 and one or moremember groups. An accounting program 2093 is utilized in order torecord, allocate, and eventually distribute network energy 2049 ascompensation to Member #1, Member #2, and Member #N for theircontribution to network 11. This type of reward system encourages thedevelopment of new digital content, and makes membership in network 11continuously interesting to existing members 2007 and new members 2051alike.

EARNING ENERGY THROUGH INTERACTION WITH MERCHANTS: Another interestingway to earn network energy 2049 in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention is through interaction with networkmerchants 2005. This is depicted in FIG. 4C, in which Merchant #1 andMerchant #N provide either or both of goods 2036 or services 2038 tomembers of the public in general and members of network 11 inparticular. In addition to Member #1 and Member #2, identified byreference numerals 2021 and 2023, respectively, Member #3, Member #4,Member #5, Member #6, Member #7, Member #8, and Member #9 are identifiedby reference numerals 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032, and 2034,respectively. Merchant #1 and Merchant #N have preexisting commercialrelationships with service provider 2001 which manages network 11. Underthese relationships, Merchant #1 and Merchant #N are authorized todirectly or indirectly distribute, allocate, gift, or grant particularamounts of network energy 2049 to members who patronize Merchant #1 andMerchant #N through the purchase or acquisition of goods 2036 orservices 2038. These relationships may also be set up to reward membersfor merely considering the purchase of goods 2036 or services 2038, suchas by entering the retail establishment associated with Merchant #1 orMerchant #N, or by reviewing electronic or printed materials related toMerchant #1's or Merchant #N's goods 2036 or services 2038.

As is shown in the view of FIG. 4C, Member #1, Member #2, Member #3, andMember #4 are engaged in commercial transactions with Merchant #1through the purchase of either goods 2036 or services 2038. Member #1,Member #2, Member #3, and Member #4 purchase goods or services utilizingcash 2050, checks 2052, or credit cards 2054. Merchant #1 provides goods2036 and/or services 2038 in return. However, Merchant #1 may alsoprovide certain predefined amounts of network energy 2049 which may beutilized by Member #1, Member #2, Member #3, and Member #4 to engage inactivities on network 11. In certain transactions, service provider 2001may provide members with additional rewards of network energy 2049. Forexample, service provider 2001 provides network energy 2049 directly toMember #2 and Member #3 which supplements network energy 2049 awarded toMember #2 and Member #3 directly by Merchant #1.

FIG. 4C also depicts the interaction between Member #8 and Member #9directly with service provider 2001. Member #8 and Member #9 arerewarded directly by service provider 2001 through the allocation ofnetwork energy 2049 due to network-mediated activities relating toMerchant #1, such as reviewing offers for goods 2036 or services 2038 inthe form of attention 2056.

In a similar fashion, Merchant #N is engaged in commercial transactionswith Member #5, Member #6, and Member #7. As is shown, Member #5 payscash 2050 in exchange for goods 2036 and an amount of network energy2049 from Merchant #N. Member #6 “burns” a selected amount of networkenergy 2049 in exchange for services 2038 from Merchant #N. Member #7“burns” a selected amount of network energy 2049 in exchange for goods2036 from Merchant #N. In each of these transactions, valuableconsideration has been exchanged for goods 2036, services 2038, and/ornetwork energy 2049.

EARNING ENERGY THROUGH RECRUITMENT OF NEW NETWORK MEMBERS: In accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the present invention, network energy2049 may also be earned by members through the recruitment of newmembers into network 11. This is depicted in simplified and graphic formin FIG. 4D. As is shown, service provider 2001 has a pre-existingcommercial relationship with Member #1. Member #1 engages in recruitmentof a New Member #1, identified by reference numeral 2097. Suchrecruitment is reported to service provider 2001, which, in turn,supplies a selected amount of network energy 2049, or “recruitment”energy 2096, to Member #1 for the recruitment. New Member #1 receivesnetwork energy 2049, or “start-up” energy 2098, and a location-awarewireless communication appliance 2099 from service provider 2001 forjoining. Typically, a sponsor, such as a network affiliate 2003 or anetwork merchant 2005, would sponsor or subsidize the new membership.Thus, there would be no out-of pocket expense associated with New Member#1's initial membership. Because each member who recruits new members isrewarded with “recruitment” energy 2096, there is an incentive to repeator pass on the recruitment process.

The continuation of the recruitment process is also depicted in FIG. 4D.As is shown, New Member #1 recruits New Member #2, identified byreference numeral 3001. New Member #2 receives start-up energy 2098 andan appliance 3003 from service provider 2001 as part of her membership.Again, this membership may be sponsored or subsidized by serviceprovider 2001, one or more network affiliates 2003, or one or moremerchants 2005, such that there is no initial membership charge to NewMember #2. For the recruitment activities New member #1 receivesrecruitment energy from service provider 2001. In this manner, thenumber of members grows and network 11 expands geometrically. It shouldbe understood that the sponsoring or subsidizing of new members may bedone in whole or in part, or may be shared among sponsors. In analternate embodiment of the present invention, new members may berequired to purchase their appliances and start-up energy.

EARNING ENERGY THROUGH GOOD SAMARATIN ACTION: An alternative way to earnenergy in the network is performing acts which are considered “GoodSamarita” acts in accordance with some schema established by serviceprovider 2001. Good Samaritan acts may include assisting other memberswith difficulties in utilizing network 11 or appliances. In addition,good Samaritan acts may include the generation of “shareware” digitalcontent or other means for enriching the user experience. Some goodSamaritan acts may relate to particular problems experienced by networkaffiliates 2003, merchants 2005, or members 2007. For example, members2007 asking for directions or other types of useful information may berewarded through a good Samaritan system in which good deeds arereported to service provider 2001 and rewarded with predeterminedamounts of network energy 2049.

GIFTS OF NETWORK ENERGY TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION: Another way toobtain network energy 2049 is in receipt for engaging in certain typesof activity on network 11. Service provider 2001 may reward members andmember organizations for forming and maintaining chat groups orcommunity relationships on network 11. For example, the leader of anantique car owner's group may be rewarded with network energy 2049 byservice provider 2001 for establishing and maintaining a virtualcommunity of member who own antique cars. Such rewards may be subsidizedby a merchant who deals in antique car goods and services. This can havea substantial motivating effect on members, and can be utilized to growand form network 11.

BURNING NETWORK ENERGY: A variety of ways are also provided forconsuming or “burning” network energy 2049. A few of these means forconsuming energy are discussed below under separate headings.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH HARDWARE ACQUISITION: One way to consume networkenergy 2049 is through the acquisition of network hardware oraccessories. Under this scenario, a member may have access to a widearray of hardware and hardware accessories for utilization in activityon network 11. For example, a New Member #1 may want to burn networkenergy 2049 to obtain an additional docking station for his appliance2099, or New Member #2 may wish to burn network energy 2049 to acquirean interchangeable housing for her appliance 3003. The prices for theseactivities may be set in terms of network energy 2049, instead ofnational currencies. Such pricing and exchange rates would be set byservice provider 2001.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH CONTENT CONSUMPTION: Another means for burningnetwork energy 2049 is through the consumption of digital content overnetwork 11. As set forth above, digital content may come in manydifferent forms and in many different ways. Digital content can betextual materials, graphical materials, or animated “movies” which aredisplayed on the member's appliance.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH AIRTIME USE: Another way to burn network energy2049 is by utilizing airtime to transmit digital content or to conductcommunications with other members within network 11. In accordance withthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, airtime may have apredetermined or even variable price in terms of network energy 2049.Mechanisms are established for determining the total amount of airtimeusage for particular members. On a periodic basis, the network energy2049 in each member's account is reduced by an amount of network energy2049 that is equivalent to the amount of airtime used by that eachmember during that period of time.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH INSTANT MESSAGING: One particular communicationmode which burns network energy 2049 is instant messaging (IM). Innetwork 11, IM is comparable to currently commercially available IM withthe exception that in network 11 of the present invention,location-aware wireless communication appliances are utilized.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH CHATTING: Network energy 2049 may also be burnedthrough communication activities in the form of real-time chattingbetween one or more members of network 11. The airtime used during achat session may be apportioned among the various members engaged in thechat and charged to their own individual accounts, thus decrementing theamount of network energy 2049 available to each participant in the chatsession.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH E-MAIL: E-mail may also be sent over network 11in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The use of network11 to send and receive e-mail may also burn network energy 2049 in apredetermined amount. This may be established in terms of the length ofthe transmission, the number of characters transmitted, or by some othermethod.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH FINDING BUDDIES: Another way to burn energy onnetwork 11 is to locate buddies within network 11 to determine theirlocation and establish communication with them. The act of finding abuddy may have a predetermined price in network energy 2049 associatedwith it.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH WEB ACCESS: To the extent that the location-awarewireless communication appliances are equipped with web browsers,utilization of such devices to access the Web and download materials mayalso burn a certain predetermined amount of network energy 2049.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH GIFTS OR TRANSFERS: An alternative way to burnnetwork energy 2049 is to give or transfer network energy 2049 to othermembers in the form of a gift or grant. Members may link network energy2049 to other desirable currencies or goods or services. For example,relationships can be established between network energy 2049 and POKEMONcards or baseball cards. In another example, electronic giftcertificates can be utilized to transfer network energy 2049 betweenmembers to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays.

BURNING ENERGY THROUGH “COLLECT” TRANSACTIONS: An alternative andinteresting means of burning network energy 2049 is to placecommunications on network 11 on a “collect” basis similar to theplacement of collect telephone calls. When a collect communication isplaced, the recipient of the communication, or the party that respondsto the communication, is charged a predetermined amount of networkenergy 2049 for the transfer from source to service provider 2001 andfrom service provider 2001 to recipient, should the recipient accept thecommunication. With regard to IM, in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the recipient is charged for all costs associatedwith the IM communication.

MERCHANTS AND AFFILIATIES: Network 11 relies heavily on theparticipation and cooperation of network affiliates 2003 and merchants2005.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NETWORK ENERGY/CURRENCY: In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, service provider 2001 isresponsible for establishing and maintaining an exchange rate betweennetwork energy and national currencies, so that digital content, goods,and services may be freely exchanged over network 11 between and amongservice provider 2001, network affiliates 2003, merchants 2005, andmembers 2007.

E-COUPONS: E-coupons function in a manner very similar to conventionalcoupons. Merchants 2005 may distribute e-coupons to members 2007 who mayredeem the e-coupons for goods and services, or reductions in the amountof network energy 2049 required to be burned for such goods andservices.

14. Community Systems

TRUST MANAGEMENT: As has been previously discussed, network 11 of thepresent invention places a high value on the trust that a member placesupon her appliance and network 11 in making her private communications.Accordingly, trust management is a priority for network 11. This isespecially true because network 11 manages a great deal of personalinformation, especially information relating to the value or weightaccorded by the member to her peers, friends, and acquaintances.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS: Network 11 relies upon truthfulmember input in establishing the weight or priority that is attached toparticular communicants. Each member will be afforded an opportunity tohonestly evaluate the relative importance of his or her peers, friends,and acquaintances. Although such information must be utilized by network11 on a frequent basis, the information must be guarded at all timesagainst inadvertent disclosure. Examples have been previously providedwhich illustrate how a member may attach a “block” to communicationsoriginating from particular entities, such as merchants 2005 or members2007. Additional examples have been given illustrating the assignment of“high,” “medium,” or “low” values to communications originating fromparticular entities. By managing this trusted information, network 11manages “relationships.”

REFERENTIAL TRUST: On novel aspect of the present invention is theability of network 11 to infer likely levels of trust betweenindividuals that have not yet interacted with one another throughutilization of known trust data which the relevant individuals may havefor commonly-known and ranked or rated members, groups of members, ormerchants. In this manner, network 11 may infer trust data betweenmembers and groups of members. The use of referential trust can beextended to the analysis of likely preferences for particular goods orservices based upon known preferences of particular members, or groupsof members. For example, users having high regard for one another in onearea of taste or likes are likely to agree upon other areas of a similarnature.

The concept of referential trust may also be used to assign preferenceratings to digital content the first time the digital content is offeredfor presentation to a member. Because the member has not yet had anopportunity to rate the new digital content, a referential trustanalysis can be performed to assign a preliminary preference rating tothe digital content. In this analysis, the unrated new digital contentis compared to existing rated digital content of a similar nature. On amember-by-member basis, the ratings from the existing digital contentare used to calculate and assign a rating to the new digital content.The similarity between the new digital content and existing digitalcontent is determined by comparing the wrapper for the new digitalcontent with the wrapper for existing digital content. As set forthabove, wrappers contain a wide variety of information, or contentparameters, which describe the digital content.

MESSAGE BUBBLE-UP FILTERING: The preferred communication system of thepresent invention may utilize trust data in order to sort, prioritize,or filter digital content so that messages form a highly trusted sourceare quickly brought to the member's attention while messages form lesstrusted sources are blocked, delayed, or otherwise minimized.

FILTERING MERCHANT OFFERS: The presentation of merchant offers may alsobe filtered or prioritized based upon the level of commercial trust thatthe user has for particular merchants or providers of digital content.It should be understood the above-described referential trust analysiscan be applied in the instance of assigning preference information tocommercial digital content.

VIRTUAL INTRODUCTIONS: The level of trust and confidence that a user hasassigned to particular known individuals may be utilized by network 11to arrange for virtual introductions initiated by network 11 of membersthat are likely to form a relationship. In this manner, friendships canbe created by network 11, thereby building community within network 11around common preferences or evaluations of third-party members.

SEEKING A GOOD SAMARITAN: The trust and personal preferences informationcan be utilized automatically by network 11 to locate one or moreindividuals which could or may be of assistance in a time of need orcrisis. A member in need of a ride to school or for a referral to adoctor may call upon network 11 to identify likely good Samaritans forpossible assistance.

REQUESTING INFORMATION: Trust and personal preferences can also beutilized by network 11 to fulfill member requests for assistance.

Direct Assessment of Trust:

Interpolated or Calculated Trust:

Trust in ePINIONS and eVALUATIONS:

Messages and Trust:

DIGITAL PERIPHERAL VISION: Community can also be developed in network 11through the sharing of virtual common space by particular members orgroups of members. Because the virtual space of a display to some extentreflects portions of the actual physical space occupied by the members,a form of common peripheral space may be used in the actual display toidentify and locate actual locations or places of commerce in a spaceknown as the digital peripheral space. Items that are accorded a lowpriority by a member or groups of members may be relegated to thedigital peripheral space. Focusing on this space can represent anexercise of digital peripheral vision. Items in this space are not inthe foreground of the member's attention; however, such items are alsonot quite relegated to a background or off-screen position. Digitalperipheral vision is further explained below with reference to thegraphical user interface (GUI) of the present invention.

STICKY-NOTES COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION: The present invention also enablesa new form of public forum. Sticky notes, which provide user commentary,may be attached to any particular virtual space in network 11 in theform of “digital sticky notes.” Sticky note messages may take the formof either positive or negative commentary. This commentary may proveuseful to other users and aid in building community.

DIGITIAL GRAFITTI: The present invention also enables a form of“tagging” in virtual space which may take the form of “digitalgraffiti,” which may serve no useful purpose, except possibly to notethat another member has passed in the same space before.

SHOUTING COMMUNICATION MODE: The present invention also provides for adigital “shout.” A digital shout is an IM communication sent by a singlemember which may be received, and perhaps acted upon or responded to, bymany other members, such as trusted members or members which aredetermined by network 11 to likely prove to be helpful and/ortrustworthy. Each member may set up and maintain a list of members whoare to receive each member's digital shouts. In addition to this expressdesignation of digital shout recipients, network 11 may utilize trustand preference data to determine which members receive each member'sdigital shouts. In such situations, the aggregated trust data can serveas a type of communication “creditworthiness” indicator.

GENERATING A DIGITAL SHOUT: In this embodiment, network 11 utilizestrust and preference information maintained in the relationship networkto transmit the digital shout from a single member to many other trustedmembers or members who are determined by network 11 to likely prove tobe helpful and/or trustworthy. Essentially, the aggregated trust andpreference information can serve as a communication “creditworthiness”indicator. The relationship analysis referred to above may be used bynetwork 11 to analyze and determine the group of members who are able to“hear” the shouting member's digital shout.

SENDING A DIGITAL SHOUT: In this embodiment, network 11 utilizes GPSinformation, either raw longitude and latitude coordinates, if chosen bythe user, or colloquially designated information, to transmit thedigital shout to listening members who are within a predeterminedgeographical proximity of the sending member.

COMBINATION DIGITAL SHOUT: In this embodiment, network 11 utilizes bothtrust and preference information and GPS information to transmit thedigital shout to listening users who are determined by network 11 tolikely prove to be helpful and/or trustworthy, and who are within apredetermined proximity of the sending member.

VIRTUAL TOURISM: The present invention also enables a form of virtualtravel known as “virtual tourism” in which a member may choose toreceive digital content as if he or she were actually located in aselected geographic region also served by network 11.

VIRTUAL WINDOW SHOPPING IN REMOTE LOCALE: The present invention alsoallows a member to actually shop in shared virtual space from a remotelocale.

SISTER CITY THROUGH VIRTUAL LOCATION GROUPING: In accordance with thepresent invention, a member or a group of members may adopt a remotevirtual space as a “sister” city, and thus engage in community building.

LOCATION “MORPHING” TO CREATE SHARED VIRTUAL SPACE: In accordance withthe present invention, one or more members may combine remote virtualspace into a single “morphed” virtual space. For example, the networkspace for New Orleans, La. may be combined with the network space forDallas, Tex.

POSITION/LOCATION SNAP SHOTS: In accordance with the present invention,a member may mark or index a particular virtual location for futurereference or to allow later return.

JUMP-TO FUNCTION TO EMULATE RELOCATION AND/OR TRAVEL: The presentinvention also enables the rapid relocation or “jumping” between virtuallocations.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limitingsense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well asalternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to personsskilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention.It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover anysuch modifications or embodiments that fall within the scope of theinvention.

1. An electronic data input apparatus for capturing a response todigital content generated by a personal communication device, theelectronic data input apparatus comprising: an input element configuredfor electrical coupling to the personal communication device; and ameans for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the responseand for transferring the signal to the personal communication device. 2.The electronic data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinput element is integral with an exterior surface of the personalcommunication device.
 3. The electronic data input apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the input element is a one-dimensional touch pad. 4.The electronic data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinput element is a one-dimensional touch pad.
 5. The electronic datainput apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input element is anelongated spring-biased button.
 6. The electronic data input apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the input element is a digitized touchscreen displaying an elongated graphical element.
 7. The electronic datainput apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input element is a jogwheel.
 8. The electronic data input apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the jog wheel is spring biased to a neutral position.
 9. Theelectronic data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inputelement is a scroll wheel.
 10. The electronic data input apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the input element is a cylindrical thumbwheel.
 11. The electronic data input apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the input element is a linear sliding knob potentiometer. 12.The electronic data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinput element is a digitized touch screen displaying a plurality ofgraphical selection buttons.
 13. The electronic data input apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the input element is a bank of selectionbuttons.
 14. The electronic data input apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the input element is a two-dimensional touch pad.
 15. Theelectronic data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thepersonal communication device is a laptop computer.
 16. The electronicdata input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalcommunication device is a palmtop computer.
 17. The electronic datainput apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal communicationdevice is a personal digital assistant.
 18. The electronic data inputapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal communicationdevice is a mobile phone.
 19. The electronic data input apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the personal communication device is acomputer keyboard.
 20. The electronic data input apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the personal communication device is a globalpositioning device.
 21. The electronic data input apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the personal communication device is a wearablepersonal communication device.
 22. The electronic data input apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the digital content is a query generatedby the personal communication device.
 23. The electronic data inputapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital content is agraphical image generated by the personal communication device.
 24. Theelectronic data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedigital content is a audio-visual presentation generated by the personalcommunication device.
 25. An electronic data input system for enteringdata into a personal communication device having a microprocessor and adisplay for displaying digital content, the electronic data input systemcomprising: an input element operably associated with the personalcommunication device and being electrically coupled to themicroprocessor; and means for presenting an analog range of responses tothe digital content; means for selectively capturing a response to thedigital content from the analog range of responses.
 26. The electronicdata input system according to claim 25, wherein the captured responseis a rating of the digital content.
 27. The electronic data input systemaccording to claim 25, wherein the digital content is textual.
 28. Theelectronic data input system according to claim 25, wherein the digitalcontent is graphical.
 29. The electronic data input system according toclaim 25, wherein the digital content is audio-visual.
 30. Theelectronic data input system according to claim 25, wherein the inputelement is a one-dimensional touch pad.
 31. The electronic data inputsystem according to claim 25, wherein the input element is an elongatedspring-biased button.
 32. The electronic data input system according toclaim 25, wherein the input element is a digitized touch screendisplaying an elongated graphical element.
 33. The electronic data inputsystem according to claim 25, wherein the input element is a jog wheel.34. The electronic data input system according to claim 33, wherein thejog wheel is spring biased to a neutral position.
 35. The electronicdata input system according to claim 33, wherein the input element is ascroll wheel.
 36. The electronic data input system according to claim33, wherein the input element is a cylindrical thumb wheel.
 37. Theelectronic data input system according to claim 33, wherein the inputelement is a linear sliding knob potentiometer.
 38. The electronic datainput system according to claim 33, wherein the input element is adigitized touch screen displaying a plurality of graphical selectionbuttons.
 39. The electronic data input system according to claim 33,wherein the input element is a bank of selection buttons.
 40. Theelectronic data input system according to claim 33, wherein the inputelement is a two-dimensional touch pad.
 41. An electronic data inputsystem for entering data into a personal communication device having amicroprocessor and a display for displaying digital content, theelectronic data input system comprising: an input element operablyassociated with the personal communication device and being electricallycoupled to the microprocessor; software for operating the input element,the software being programmed to generate the digital content andselectively capture data from the input element in response to thedigital content; and an active scaling element displayed by themicroprocessor on the display, the active scaling element representingan analog range of responses to the digital content; whereby the data iscaptured from the analog range of responses by activation of the inputelement.
 42. The electronic data input system according to claim 41,wherein the active scaling element is an elongated graphical element.43. The electronic data input system according to claim 42, furthercomprising: a graphical shuttle element operably associated with theelongated graphical element, whereby activation of the input elementcauses a corresponding movement of the graphical shuttle element alongthe elongated graphical element.
 44. The electronic data input systemaccording to claim 41, wherein the active scaling element is a graphicalicon, whereby activation of the input element causes a correspondingmovement of the graphical icon.
 45. The electronic data input systemaccording to claim 41, further comprising: a plurality of scalingmessages operably associated with the active scaling element.
 46. Theelectronic data input system according to claim 45, wherein the scalingmessages are text messages.
 47. The electronic data input systemaccording to claim 45, wherein the scaling messages are graphical icons.48. The electronic data input system according to claim 41, wherein theactive scaling element has a non-biased initial state.
 49. Theelectronic data input system according to claim 41, wherein the inputelement includes visual indicia spatially located along the length ofthe input element to indicate the boundaries of the input element. 50.The electronic data input system according to claim 49, wherein thevisual indicia are raised ridges.
 51. The electronic data input systemaccording to claim 41, wherein the personal communication device is alaptop computer.
 52. The electronic data input system according to claim41, wherein the personal communication device is a palmtop computer. 53.The electronic data input system according to claim 41, wherein thepersonal communication device is a personal digital assistant.
 54. Theelectronic data input system according to claim 41, wherein the personalcommunication device is a mobile phone.
 55. The electronic data inputsystem according to claim 41, wherein the personal communication deviceis a computer keyboard.
 56. An analog responder for entering a responseinto a wireless communication appliance having a display and amicroprocessor, the analog responder comprising: an input elementdisposed within the wireless communication appliance and beingelectrically coupled to the microprocessor; software programmed into themicroprocessor for operating the analog responder and displaying digitalcontent on the display; an active scaling element displayed by themicroprocessor on the display, the active scaling element representingan analog range of responses to the digital content; and a plurality ofscaling messages operably associated with the active scaling element;whereby the response is selected from the analog range of responses byactivation of the analog responder.
 57. The analog responder accordingto claim 56, wherein the wireless communication appliance is alocation-aware wireless communication appliance.
 58. The analogresponder according to claim 56, further comprising: a wirelesscommunication network for providing simultaneous wireless communicationcapabilities to a plurality of the location-aware wireless communicationappliances.
 59. The analog responder according to claim 56, wherein theactive scaling element is an elongated graphical element.
 60. The analogresponder according to claim 56, further comprising: a graphical shuttleelement operably associated with the elongated graphical element,whereby activation of the analog responder causes a correspondingmovement of the graphical shuttle element along the elongated graphicalelement.
 61. The analog responder according to claim 56, wherein theactive scaling element is a graphical icon, whereby activation of theinput element causes a corresponding movement of the graphical icon. 62.The analog responder according to claim 56, wherein the scaling messagesare text messages.
 63. The analog responder according to claim 56,wherein the scaling messages are graphical icons.
 64. The analogresponder according to claim 56, wherein the active scaling element hasa non-biased initial state, such that the user's response is not biasedby a default response.
 65. The analog responder according to claim 56,wherein the input element includes visual indicia spatially locatedalong the length of the input element to indicate the boundaries of theinput element.
 66. The analog responder according to claim 56, whereinthe visual indicia are raised ridges.
 67. A data entry system forentering data into an existing personal communication device having adisplay, a microprocessor, and a microprocessor input/output port, theelectronic data input system comprising: a modular housing; an inputelement operably associated with the modular housing; a housinginput/output port configured to electronically mate with themicroprocessor input/output port, whereby the input element iselectrically coupled to the microprocessor; and whereby the data isentered into the microprocessor by activation of the input element. 68.The data entry system according to claim 67, further comprising: digitalcontent generated by the microprocessor and displayed on the display; anactive scaling element displayed by the microprocessor on the display,the active scaling element representing an analog range of responses tothe digital content; and a plurality of scaling messages operablyassociated with the active scaling element; wherein activation of theinput element causes a corresponding change in the active scalingelement.
 69. The data entry system according to claim 67, wherein theexisting personal communication device is a wireless communicationdevice.
 70. The data entry system according to claim 69, wherein thewireless communication device is a location-aware wireless communicationappliance.
 71. The data entry system according to claim 70, furthercomprising: a wireless communication network for providing simultaneouswireless communication capabilities to a plurality of the location-awarewireless communication appliances.
 72. A communication network,comprising: (a) a plurality of portable wireless communication devicesissued to network subscribers located in a plurality of differinggeographic locations; (b) a plurality of wireless communication towersproviding wireless communication coverage of said differing geographiclocations; (c) a wireless geographic positioning system facilitating adetermination of an actual geographic position for each of saidplurality of portable wireless communication devices; (d) each of saidportable wireless communication devices including: (1) a relativelysmall housing; (2) a wireless communication receiver, carried withinsaid relatively small housing, for receiving wireless communicationsignals from said plurality of communication towers; (3) a wirelesscommunication transmitter, carried within said relatively small housing,for transmitting communication signals from said plurality of wirelesscommunication towers; (4) a wireless geographic positioning subsystem,carried within said relatively small housing, for interacting with saidwireless geographic positioning system and determining the geographicposition of each particular portable wireless communication device; (5)a processor and associated memory, carried within said relatively smallhousing, for storing program instructions and data in memory and forexecuting program instructions; (e) a network control system, including:(1) a transmission system for communicating wireless transmissions fromsaid plurality of communication towers; (2) a reception system forreceiving wireless transmissions from said plurality of communicationtowers; (3) a communication traffic management system for managingbi-directional communication through the transmission and reception ofwireless signals; (4) a location management system for maintaininglocation information for said plurality of network subscribers; (f)wherein said processor of said portable wireless communication devicedetermines a current actual geographic position through use of saidwireless geographic positioning subsystem; (g) wherein a personalizedlocation database of user-specific locations is maintained in saidmemory of each of said plurality of portable wireless communicationdevices, which associates a plurality of generalized locationidentifiers to a plurality of corresponding actual geographic positions;(h) wherein said processor executes program instructions to examine saidpersonalized location database in order to identify a generalizedlocation identifier associated with said geographic position; (i)wherein said portable wireless communication device communicateslocation information to said network control system predominately interms of said generalized location identifier; and (j) wherein saidnetwork control system maintains location information for said pluralityof portable wireless communication devices predominately in terms ofsaid generalized location identifiers.
 73. A communication network,according to claim 72, wherein said generalized location identifierscomprise at least one of: (a) user-defined generalized locationidentifiers; and (b) network-provided generalized location identifiers.74. A communication network, according to claim 72, wherein saidgeographic positioning system comprises at least one of: (a) a pluralityof global positioning satellites; (b) communication tower identifiers;(c) signal triangulation; and (d) signal signature matching.
 75. Acommunication network, comprising: (a) a plurality of portable wirelesscommunication devices issued to network subscribers located in aplurality of differing geographic locations; (b) a plurality of wirelesscommunication towers providing wireless communication coverage of saiddiffering geographic locations; (c) a plurality of global positioningsatellites transmitting global positioning signals (GPS) to saiddiffering geographic locations, which collectively determine a GPSposition in terms of latitude and longitude for each of said portablewireless communication devices; (d) each of said portable wirelesscommunication devices including: (1) a relatively small housing; (2) awireless communication receiver, carried within said relatively smallhousing, for receiving wireless communication signals from saidplurality of communication towers; (3) a wireless communicationtransmitter, carried within said relatively small housing, fortransmitting communication signals from said plurality of wirelesscommunication towers; (4) a global positioning receiver, carried withinsaid relatively small housing, for receiving GPS signals from saidplurality of global positioning satellites; (5) a processor andassociated memory, carried within said relatively small housing, forstoring program instructions and data in memory and for executingprogram instructions; (e) a network control system, including: (1) atransmission system for communicating wireless transmissions from saidplurality of communication towers; (2) a reception system for receivingwireless transmissions from said plurality of communication towers; (3)a communication traffic management system for managing bi-directionalcommunication through the transmission and reception of wirelesssignals; (4) a location management system for maintaining locationinformation for said plurality of network subscribers; and (f) whereinsaid processor of said portable wireless communication device utilizessaid GPS signals received from said plurality of global positioningsatellites to determine a current GPS position in terms of at leastlatitude and longitude; (g) wherein a personalized location database ofuser-specific locations is maintained in said memory of each of saidplurality of portable wireless communication devices, which associates aplurality of generalized location identifiers to a plurality ofcorresponding GPS positions; (h) wherein said processor executes programinstructions to examine said personalized location database in order toidentify a generalized location identifier associated with said GPSposition; (i) wherein said portable wireless communication devicecommunicates location information to said network control systempredominately in terms of said generalized location identifier; and (j)wherein said network control system maintains location information forsaid plurality of portable wireless communication devices predominatelyin terms of said generalized location identifiers.
 76. A communicationnetwork, according to claim 75, wherein said network control systemfurther includes: (5) a user preference modeling system which developsat least one user profile for said plurality of network subscriberswhich is based at least in part upon location information which ismaintained by said network control system in the form of generalizedlocation identifiers.
 77. A communication network, according to claim75, wherein each of said portable communication devices communicates tosaid network control system location information in the form of auser-generated generalized location identification.
 78. A communicationnetwork, according to claim 77, wherein said personalized locationdatabase of user-specific locations which is maintained in said memoryof each of said plurality of portable wireless communication devicesassociates each generalized location identifier to a range of GPSpositions.
 79. A communication network according to claim 78, whereinsaid range of GPS positions associated with a particular generalizedlocation identifier may be automatically altered over time in responseto at least one of the following: (a) additional express input ofnetwork subscribers in response to questions posed by said network; (b)actions of said network subscribers to rename a location which is inconflict with a prior designation; and (c) actions taken by said networksubscribers to change at least one status item of a portable wirelesscommunication device.
 80. A communication network according to claim 78,wherein said range of GPS positions associated with a particulargeneralized location identifier is modeled as at least on of thefollowing: (a) a two dimensional polygon space; (b) a three dimensionalpolygon space; (c) a circle; (d) a cylinder; (e) combinations of shapes;(f) clustered circle shapes; and (g) clustered cylindrical shapes.
 81. Acommunication network, according to claim 75, wherein said generalizedlocation identifiers comprise at least one of: (a) user-definedgeneralized location identifiers; and (b) network-provided generalizedlocation identifiers.
 82. A communication network, comprising: (a) aplurality of portable wireless communication devices issued to networksubscribers located in a plurality of differing geographic locations;(b) a plurality of wireless communication towers providing wirelesscommunication coverage of said differing geographic locations; (c) aplurality of global positioning satellites transmitting globalpositioning signals (GPS) to said differing geographic locations, whichcollectively determine a GPS position in terms of at least latitude andlongitude for each of said portable wireless communication devices; (d)each of said portable wireless communication devices including: (1) arelatively small housing; (2) a wireless communication receiver, carriedwithin said relatively small housing, for receiving wirelesscommunication signals from said plurality of communication towers in theform of digital packets; (3) a wireless communication transmitter,carried within said relatively small housing, for transmittingcommunication signals from said plurality of wireless communicationtowers in the form of digital packets; (4) a display for displaying atleast textual material, including two-way communications conducted oversaid plurality of wireless communication towers utilizing said digitalpackets; (5) a global positioning receiver, carried within saidrelatively small housing, for receiving GPS signals from said pluralityof global positioning satellites; (6) a processor and associated memory,carried within said relatively small housing, for storing programinstructions and data in memory and for executing program instructions;(7) a user input system carried by said relatively small housing forinputting user commands and data into said processor; (e) a networkcontrol system, including: (1) a transmission system for communicatingdigital packets to said plurality of communication towers for wirelesstransmission; (2) a reception system for receiving wirelesstransmissions of digital packets from said plurality of communicationtowers; (3) a session management system for managing communicationexchanges, each of which are composed of exchanges of digital packetsthrough the transmission and reception of wireless signals; (4) alocation management system for maintaining location information for saidplurality of network subscribers; and (f) wherein said processor of saidportable wireless communication device utilizes said GPS signalsreceived from said plurality of global positioning satellites todetermine a current GPS position in terms of latitude and longitude; (g)wherein a personalized location database of generalized locationidentifiers is maintained in said memory of each of said plurality ofportable wireless communication devices, and which associates aplurality of generalized location identifiers to a plurality ofcorresponding GPS positions; (h) wherein said processor executes programinstructions to examine said personalized location database in order toidentify a particular generalized location identifier associated withsaid GPS position; (i) wherein said portable wireless communicationdevice communicates location information to said network control systempredominately in terms of said generalized location identifier; and (j)wherein said network control system maintains location information forsaid plurality of portable wireless communication devices predominatelyin terms of said generalized location identifiers.
 83. A communicationnetwork, according to claim 82, wherein said network control systemfurther includes: (5) a user preference modeling system which developsat least one user profile for said plurality of network subscriberswhich is based at least in part upon location information which ismaintained by said network control system in the form of generalizedlocation identifiers.
 84. A communication network, according to claim82, wherein each of said portable communication devices communicates tosaid network control system location information in the form of auser-generated generalized location description.
 85. A communicationnetwork, according to claim 82, wherein said personalized locationdatabase of user-specific locations which is maintained in said memoryof each of said plurality of portable wireless communication devicesassociates each generalized location identifier to a range of GPSpositions.
 86. A communication network according to claim 82, whereinsaid range of GPS positions associated with a particular generalizedlocation identifier may be automatically altered over time in responseto at least one of the following: (a) additional express input ofnetwork subscribers in response to questions posed by said network; (b)actions taken by said network subscribers to rename a location which isin conflict with a prior designation; and (c) actions taken by saidnetwork subscribers to change the generalized location indicator throughinteraction with said portable wireless communication device.
 87. Acommunication network according to claim 82, wherein said range of GPSpositions associated with a particular generalized location identifieris modeled as at least on of the following: (a) a two dimensionalpolygon space; (b) a three dimensional polygon space; (c) a circle; (d)a cylinder; (e) combinations of shapes; (f) clustered circle shapes; and(g) clustered cylindrical shapes.
 88. A communication network, accordingto claim 82, wherein said generalized location identifiers comprise atleast one of: (a) user-defined generalized location identifiers; and (b)network-provided generalized location identifiers.
 89. A communicationnetwork, comprising: (a) a plurality of portable wireless communicationdevices issued to relatively mobile network subscribers located in aplurality of differing geographic locations; (b) a plurality of wirelesscommunication towers providing coverage of said differing geographiclocations; (c) a plurality of global positioning satellites transmittingglobal positioning signals (GPS) to said differing geographic locations,which collectively determine a GPS position for each of said portablewireless communication devices; (d) each of said portable wirelesscommunication devices including: (1) a relatively small housing; (2) awireless communication receiver, carried within said relatively smallhousing, for receiving wireless communication signals from saidplurality of communication towers in the form of digital packets; (3) awireless communication transmitter, carried within said relatively smallhousing, for transmitting communication signals from said plurality ofwireless communication towers in the form of digital packets; (4) adisplay for displaying at least textual material including two-waycommunications conducted over said plurality of wireless communicationtowers; (5) a global positioning receiver, carried within saidrelatively small housing, for receiving GPS signals from said pluralityof global positioning satellites; (6) a processor and associated memory,carried within said relatively small housing, for storing programinstructions and data in memory and for executing program instructions;(7) a user input system carried by said relatively small housing forinputting user commands and data into said processor; (e) a networkcontrol system, including: (1) a transmission system for communicatingdigital packets to said plurality of communication towers; (2) areception system for receiving digital packets from said plurality ofcommunication towers; (3) a communication traffic management system formanaging communication exchanges, each of which are composed ofexchanges of digital packets; (4) a location management system formaintaining location information for said plurality of networksubscribers; and (5) a subscriber preference modeling system whichdevelops at least one user profile for each of said plurality of networksubscribers which is based upon at least in part upon locationinformation which is maintained by said network control system; (f)wherein said network control system communicates messages in the form ofdigital packages to said plurality of network subscribers utilizing saidpreference modeling system in order to deliver location appropriatemessages to each particular network subscriber.
 90. A communicationnetwork, according to claim 89, wherein said network control systemcommunicates messages in the form of digital packages to said pluralityof network subscribers utilizing said preference modeling system orderto deliver location appropriate and time appropriate messages to eachparticular network subscriber.
 91. A communication network, according toclaim 89, wherein each of said portable communication devicescommunicates to said network control system location information in theform of user-generated generalized location identifiers.
 92. Acommunication network, comprising: (a) a plurality of communicationdevices issued to network subscribers located in a plurality ofdiffering geographic locations; (b) each of said communication devicesincluding: (1) a relatively small housing; (2) a communication receiver,carried within said relatively small housing; (3) a communicationtransmitter, carried within said relatively small housing; (4) adisplay, visible from the exterior of said relatively small housing, fordisplaying at least textual material including two-way communications;(5) a processor and associated memory, carried within said relativelysmall housing, for storing program instructions and data in memory andfor executing program instructions; (6) a user input system carried bysaid relatively small housing for inputting user commands and data intosaid processor; (e) a network control system, including: (1) atransmission system; (2) a reception system; (3) a session managementsystem for managing communication exchanges; (4) a preference modelingsystem which develops at least one profile for each of said plurality ofnetwork subscribers which is based upon at least in part upon: (a)location information relevant for each network subscriber which ismaintained by said network control system; (b) time information which isrelevant for each network subscriber which is maintained by said networkcontrol system; (c) know preferences which are relevant for each networksubscriber which are derived through interaction with each networksubscriber; (f) wherein said network control system automaticallycommunicates a stream of messages to said plurality of networksubscribers utilizing said preference modeling system in order todeliver contextually appropriate messages to each particular networksubscriber, each message being generally appropriate for the currentlocation of the particular network subscriber, for the current time, andfor known preferences of the particular network subscriber.